Football FanCast

It's hard to pinpoint just why this season has gone as horribly as it has for Tottenham Hotspur.

Injuries have undoubtedly played a large part, but even when the team has been close to full strength, they've found ways to drop points.

While it feels increasingly likely that Ange Postecoglou will be replaced in the summer, it feels just as crucial that Daniel Levy and Co bring in some genuinely talented players to help whoever the next manager is to take the team back up the Premier League table.

Fortunately, the last few weeks have seen the North Londoners linked with a whole host of extraordinary goalscorers from across Europe, including one who is just four goals behind Harry Kane and could, therefore, be a significant upgrade on Dominic Solanke.

Spurs' striker search

Before we get to the goalscorer in question, it's worth reviewing a couple of the other strikers linked with Spurs in recent weeks, like Jonathan David and Liam Dealp.

The former has been in incredible form this season, racking up a tally of 25 goals and 12 assists in 48 games, and will be available for free thanks to his contract expiring in June.

However, since being linked to the Lilywhites, it would appear that Serie A giants Napoli have stormed ahead in their pursuit of the Canadian and are now in talks with him.

Delap, on the other hand, appears not to be in talks with any other teams at the moment, meaning the North Londoners might still be able to get him for around £30m, which could be a steal considering he's scored 12 goals and provided two assists in just 35 league games this year.

However, perhaps the most gettable, and arguably most interesting, forward Spurs have been linked to in recent weeks is Daizen Maeda.

Reports from earlier this month claimed that the Lilywhites are interested in the Celtic star, who could be available for just £25m.

Now, he might not be the biggest name around, but the Hoops' Japanese superstar has been in sublime form this season and could very well be an upgrade on Solanke.

Why Maeda would be an excellent signing

So, the first thing to clear up is that while Maeda does tend to play out wide more often than not, he's no stranger to playing straight down the middle, having done so on ten occasions this season alone.

Therefore, we wouldn't be surprised to see Spurs opt to play him there, which would, thus, put him up against Solanke for game time, but who comes out on top?

Well, when it comes down to the most important metric of all for a centre-forward, raw output, it's the Celtic star who comes out on top, and by quite a significant margin at that.

For example, in 49 appearances, totalling 3891 minutes, the Osaka-born "machine," as dubbed by previous coaches, has scored 33 goals - just four off Kane's tally - and provided 12 assists.

In other words, the free-scoring dynamo is averaging a goal involvement every 1.08 games or, even more impressively, every 86.46 minutes.

In contrast, the North Londoners' record signing has scored 15 goals and provided eight assists in 42 appearances, totalling 3221 minutes.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.82 games, or every 140.04 minutes.

Now, it has to be said that the former Bournemouth star is playing in a far tougher league, but the difference is so stark that it at least suggests that the Japanese international is worth signing to see what he could do in a top-five league.

Ultimately, while Maeda isn't the biggest name around, his output this season has been nothing short of spectacular, and for the price that was reported earlier this month, he's certainly worth a gamble, as he could prove to be a massive upgrade on Solanke.

An "unbelievable" Premier League player is now at the "top" of Tottenham Hotspur's list of targets to replace Cristian Romero in the summer, according to former goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Romero heading for the exit door

At the end of April, it was revealed Romero has informed Tottenham that he wants to leave this summer, amid interest from La Liga giants Atletico Madrid, who have been working on a deal for the centre-back for several months.

With Daniel Levy open to selling the defender, it is now looking increasingly likely he will be on the move this summer, and Spurs' performance in the Premier League is unlikely to do them any favours when it comes to holding on to their best players.

A 2-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace is the latest poor result for Ange Postecoglou's side, in what has frankly been a terrible Premier League campaign, with the Lilywhites sitting in 17th place, having now lost 20 matches.

Bizarrely, Tottenham still have a chance to make a success out of the 2024-25 season, however, as a triumph in the Europa League final would end their 17-year trophy drought, while also securing qualification for next season's Champions League.

Speaking to Tottenham Hotspur News, Robinson has now revealed that victory in the Europa League could be crucial when it comes to attracting their top target to replace Romero, Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi.

Robinson said: "With Romero leaving, it’s looking more and more likely day by day that he’s going to move on. So you could argue that Tottenham are already a centre-half short.

"Guehi would be top of the list if they can beat anyone else to his signature. But without Champions League football, finishing 16th, potentially 17th in the Premier League, is that an attractive proposition? Or can Newcastle offer Champions League football and a better salary? And that’s where Tottenham are at the moment. There’s so much hanging on their Europa League success."

Guehi could be "unbelievable" Romero replacement

Guehi showcased exactly why he is at the top of the shortlist on Sunday afternoon, putting in a commanding performance in his side's 2-0 victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The centre-back made 14 defensive actions throughout the match, the highest number of any player, while also winning six out of the seven ground duels he contested, which secured the 24-year-old an 8.3 SofaScore match rating.

Not only that, but the £60m-rated England international has now established himself at international level, most notably making six appearances for the Three Lions at Euro 2024.

Tottenham Hotspur sunk to another defeat, their 20th of the season, in the Premier League when they were beaten 2-0 by Crystal Palace on Sunday.

A double from Eberechi Eze, who scored just before and just after the half-time break, put Spurs to the sword, and it could have been even more if not for eight saves from Antonin Kinsky between the sticks.

The Czech star was given a rare run-out in goal as he is not eligible to play in the Europa League, but the shot-stopper was not the only player who was given a rare chance to impress, as Ben Davies also came in at centre-back.

Why Ben Davies should not start the Europa League final

The Wales international came in to start in the left-sided centre-back position against Palace, after he was an unused substitute in both legs of the semi-final clash with Bodo/Glimt.

Davies won seven of his 13 duels against the Eagles, just over half, and put in a decent, but unimpressive, display at the heart of the defence. He certainly did not do enough to suggest that the manager should keep him in the team for the Europa League final after the clash with Aston Villa next weekend.

As you can see in the table above, Micky van de Ven has been far more defensively dominant than him in Europe, which is why the Dutchman should be in line to start against Manchester United.

Davies is not the only player from Sunday's starting XI who should be ditched from the team after the Aston Villa game, though, as Djed Spence must also be binned for the final.

Why Djed Spence should not start the Europa League final

The English defender lined up at left-back against Palace and did not cover himself in glory for either of the goals with his positioning on that side of the pitch, whilst he also gave the ball away 12 times and only completed 76% of his attempted passes.

Football.london handed him a player rating of just 3/10 and wrote that he was 'all over the place' and that Palace took 'advantage' of his poor positional play throughout the match, despite winning eight of his ten duels.

It is not the first time that his positioning has been questioned. When playing in his more natural right-back berth, Football FanCast suggested that he should have been dropped after the 5-1 defeat to Liverpool because he was allowed his market to get in behind on at least three occasions, once leading to a goal, on that day.

Ange Postecoglou, therefore, should not select Spence at left-back for the Europa League final because his unreliable positioning could cost them big time against the Red Devils.

Spurs will not want to gift chances away, as they did against Liverpool and Palace, with Spence at full-back because his positioning lets the United wingers in too many times down the flanks, which is why he should be dropped.

Destiny Udogie, meanwhile, has averaged 3.6 tackles and interceptions per game and won 66% of his duels in the Europa League, whilst also offering a naturally left-footed option to progress the ball in possession down that side.

It is now down to Postecoglou to take Spence out of the XI, whether that is for Villa next week or after the clash with the Villans, in order to play Udogie at left-back in the Europa League final.

Tottenham Hotspur's dismal Premier League campaign continued on Sunday when they were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Crystal Palace in front of their own supporters.

A double from England international Eberechi Eze, who scored either side of half-time, wrapped up the three points for the away side, who could have had even more.

Ange Postecoglou did, however, make a host of changes to his starting line-up, possibly to rest players ahead of the Europa League final later this month, but not many of those coming in advanced their claims for more minutes.

There were plenty of players who failed to step up and are now in danger of losing their place in the team, or of not getting another chance to impress in the coming weeks.

On the flip side, however, one player who has improved his chances of breaking into the starting line-up moving forward is goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, after his impressive display against the Eagles.

Why Antonin Kinsky has created a problem for next season

The Czechia youth international was brought into the side to give the number one, Guglielmo Vicario, a rest ahead of the Europa League final.

Signed from Sparta Prague in January, the shot-stopper already knows that he will not be in the team that faces Manchester United because he was not included in the squad for the Europa League for the knockout stages.

However, his performance against Crystal Palace showed that he has the quality to create a problem for Postecoglou next season, because he is good enough to challenge for the number one position in the Premier League.

Kinsky made eight saves and prevented 1.32 xG in the defeat to Palace, which shows that he prevented an absolute drubbing by the Eagles, and the youngster may feel like he did enough to at least make the manager think about him moving forward.

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old star kept the scoreline down with a string of important saves, whilst also coming out to deal with balls in behind and crosses into the box, without making any errors.

Whereas, Vicario has made two errors that have led to shots and one error that has led to a goal in his last five appearances in all competitions, which shows that he has not been a reliable presence between the sticks of late.

This suggests that Kinsky has done enough to at least create doubt in Postecoglou's mind for that position, as he could turn out to be a more reliable goalkeeper than the Italian heading into next season, which means that he could seriously challenge for the number one role.

On the flip side of that, Rodrigo Bentancur, who took even fewer touches (17) than Kinsky, was hooked at half-time in the defeat to Palace, and he should be ruthlessly ditched from the team by the Australian head coach.

Why Rodrigo Bentancur should be dropped

The former Juventus star was named in the starting XI after being left as an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw with West Ham United in the last Premier League game, although he did feature from the start away at Bodo/Glimt.

Bentancur, however, failed to strengthen his case for a starting berth against Manchester United in the Europa League final as he put in a dismal first-half display that might put some doubt in the manager's mind when it comes to selecting that vital line-up.

As you can see in the table above, the Uruguay international lost 75% of his duels and only completed 71% of his passes, which shows that he was loose in his use of the ball and struggled to keep up with the pace and physicality of the game out of possession.

Postecoglou opted to withdraw him from the match at the break, replaced by Yves Bissouma, and it is hard to argue with that decision when you look at what Bentancur did, or did not, offer in the opening 45.

The former Serie A star should, now, be ruthlessly ditched by Postecoglou for the trip to Aston Villa next time out in the Premier League, which will be the last match before the Europa League final.

That would then provide Bissouma with an opportunity to prove to the manager that he deserves to be in the starting XI for the final ahead of Bentancur.

The Mali international completed 87% of his passes and won three of his seven duels in the second half against Palace, which shows that he offered more in and out of possession than his teammate did in the opening 45.

Bissouma has greater athleticism in comparison to Bentancur and has the mobility to cover more ground and win more duels in the final against United, which is why Postecoglou should be concerned by the Uruguayan losing 75% of his duels against Palace.

As you can see in the clip against Brentford above, the former Brighton ace can start attacks with his ability to make recovery runs to win possession back for his side.

As shown in the statistics above, Bissouma is better than Bentancur when it comes to being dominant in duels on the deck, as the ex-Juventus man has lost the majority of his ground duels in the Premier League.

It has also been an issue in the Europa League because Bentancur has been dribbled past 1.3 times per game on average, compared to Bissouma's 0.3 times per match. This suggests that opposition midfielders find it harder to get by the Mali international, due to his strength in duels.

Therefore, Postecoglou should drop the Uruguay international from the team for the clash with Villa to provide his midfield teammate with a chance to impress ahead of the final.

Tottenham Hotspur are leading the race to sign an "incredible" midfielder, and they are now pushing to get a deal over the line, according to a report.

Europa League or bust for Postecoglou

Despite his side's dismal Premier League form, Ange Postecoglou is now in a strong position to win a trophy in his second season as Tottenham manager, as predicted, having set up a Europa League final clash against Manchester United.

It remains to be seen whether Postecoglou stays in the dugout beyond the end of the season, amid links with the likes of Fulham's Marco Silva and Marseille's Roberto De Zerbi, but ending Spurs' 17-year trophy drought would certainly work in the Australian's favour.

That said, the severe underperformance in the Premier League this season indicates the manager will need to strengthen his squad considerably this summer, regardless of whether his side are triumphant in the Europa League.

A new central midfielder is of particular interest to the Lilywhites, who are in line to compete for Real Betis' Johnny Cardoso, while they are also positioning themselves to sign an England international.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Tottenham are now leading the race for Lille's Angel Gomes, but there could be increased competition for the midfielder's signature, with Manchester United now contemplating a hijack.

Everton and Crystal Palace are also in the race for the Englishman, while the likes of Marseille, Napoli and Juventus headline the interest from abroad, which could pose a problem for Spurs.

As such, Postecoglou's side are now really pushing to get a deal over the line, with the 24-year-old set to be available on a free transfer upon the expiration of his Lille contract this summer.

"Incredible" Gomes could reignite career at Spurs

The London-born midfielder started to make a name for himself earlier this season, receiving his first England cap in the Three Lions' 2-0 triumph over Ireland, before going on to make three more appearances for his national side, winning every match.

However, injuries have hampered the Lille maestro's development, having barely featured for the French side since the turn of the year, although he recently returned to the bench for his side's 2-0 loss against Stade Brest.

That said, the former Man United man has received plaudits for his performances in a Lille shirt in the past, with Ian Wright singling him out for praise last season.

Tottenham Hotspur are on the lookout for potential Ange Postecoglou replacements ahead of next season, according to reports, with the Australian's future uncertain despite their journey to the Europa League final.

Ange Postecoglou could leave even if Spurs win Europa League

Following a disastrous domestic campaign where Spurs have already matched their all-time record for most defeats in a single Premier League season (19), Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy is very much pondering Postecoglou's long-term future.

Injuries took their toll on a ravaged Spurs squad that was forced to cope without a plethora of key players at one point, which undoubtedly played a role in their poor form, but 16th in the table after 19 defeats so far is quite simply not good enough for a 'big six' side.

As a result, credible media sources like The Telegraph's Matt Law are reporting that Postecoglou could still leave Tottenham, even if Spurs end their 17-year wait for major silverware by winning the Europa League final.

Tottenham will face Man United in Bilbao later this month to determine which of the under-performing English sides will save their season, win a trophy and qualify for the Champions League.

However, considering this still may not be enough to save Postecoglou, there are many rumoured candidates in the running to replace him.

One of them is Fulham boss Marco Silva, who is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract and could leave if any club pays his £8 million release clause. Some outlets are also reporting that Silva has rejected Fulham's first offer of a new contract, potentially giving the north Londoners hope they could tempt him to N17.

As per Sky Sports reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, Silva is now the "first name" on Tottenham's list to replace Postecoglou, overtaking the likes of Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth) and Thomas Frank (Brentford).

Marco Silva 'would accept' £190,000-per-week deal to join Tottenham

Following other reports that the 47-year-old would also be open to joining Tottenham (Pete O'Rourke), former Spurs scout and Levy employee Bryan King has shared what he believes would be enough to lure the tactician.

Indeed, King believes that Silva "would accept" a £190,000-per-week contract to join Tottenham, ideally running for three years.

"I think Silva would want a three-year deal to manage Tottenham," King said to Football Insider.

"You can start thinking of the figures, probably £10m a year. If I were the manager at Fulham, and Spurs came looking, I would just have to see what has gone on before me to see the managers who haven’t been given a chance.

"Therefore, Silva will want at least a three-year deal, and he will want to be well-paid, £10m a year would be a starting figure. I would think he would accept the job under those terms, and I would think he would want to bring his staff with him as well.

"At least five backroom staff, which means people would be losing their jobs at Tottenham, which I don’t think would be a bad thing because some of those guys have been there too long."

The ex-Everton boss has arguably overachieved at Craven Cottage this season, briefly contending for Champions League qualification despite his lack of resources compared to other top sides, and this will undoubtedly play into Levy's thinking.

Plans for Tottenham Hotspur's summer rebuild are already underway.

Having won just one of their last nine, Spurs are languishing 16th in the Premier League, thereby on course for their lowest finish since being relegated in 1977.

However, Ange Postecoglou's team could, of course, salvage the campaign in a big way, preparing for the Europa League Final against Manchester United later this month, with both silverware and a place in next season's Champions League on the line.

Of course, Champions League qualification would massively help their summer transfer plans, both financially and in terms of prestige, although, regardless of the outcome in Bilbao, this squad requires serious surgery, but do Tottenham already boast a more valuable attacker than their potential new signing?

Tottenham's search for attacking reinforcements

As previously reported by Danny Rust and Dean Jones of Give Me Sport, Tottenham are 'planning to make an offer' to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich Town this summer.

Having scored 12 Premier League goals for the Tractor Boys this season, the 22-year-old is certainly a man in demand, with Wayne Veysey of Football Insider noting that Chelsea, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest are amongst his potential suitors.

This is surely partly due to the fact that, as reported by Jacob Steinberg and Nick Ames of the Guardian, Delap has a £30m release clause, following Ipswich's relegation, which looks a major bargain for a player Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels an "absolute beast".

Thus, Delap appears as though he would be an excellent addition for Spurs, but do they already boast a better attacker?

Tottenham's most valuable attacker

When Brennan Johnson joined Tottenham from Nottingham Forest for a reported fee of £47m in September 2023, a few eyebrows were raised, but he has certainly proved his worth, as the table below outlines.

As the table shows, no Spurs player has been directly involved in more goals than Johnson, 11 of which have come in the Premier League, also contributing four en route to Bilbao in the Europa League.

Paul Taylor of The Athletic labels Johnson "electric", while Ali Tweedale of Opta's the Analyst, outlines how the Wales international quickly went from Tottenham's 'lightning rod' to their most important, most prolific attacker.

Meantime, Liam Tharme of The Athletic documents how ghosting in at the back post to score with a first-time finish has become Johnson's trademark goal, making him a pivotal figure in Postecoglou's team.

These performances mean Johnson is now Tottenham's most valuable attacker, as the table below outlines.

Based on these market values, Delap's aforementioned £30m release clause actually offers pretty fair market value, but the £47m fee paid to secure Johnson's services was, in retrospect, actually a bargain, considering his current value of £60m.

So, while Delap may be a great signing for Spurs, whatever they're planning for the summer, they need to ensure this gets the best out of their already excelling attacker.

Tottenham want to sign a "special" Man City player who Pep Guardiola rates very highly, with the man in question thought to be keen on an exit from Eastlands when the summer transfer window reopens.

Tottenham battle Man United for Europa League after tough seasons

After cruising past Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League semi-finals, Spurs now face Premier League rivals Man United in the Europa League final - where both sides will be battling to save their respective seasons.

Ange Postecoglou has led the Lilywhites to a dismal 19 league defeats this campaign, equalling the club's record for most Premier League losses in a single season, with United suffering from a similar run of form.

The Red Devils are 15th in the league and winless in their last five encounters, but their fortunes are drastically different in Europe, having just impressively knocked Athletic Bilbao out in the semis with a 7-1 aggregate win over the La Liga side.

Now, either team could end their regrettable 2024/25 campaigns on a major high with silverware on a spot in next season's Champions League group draw on the line.

"Who cares if we're struggling in the league? Why is that important? If it's so easy to get to a final, then why doesn't everyone who finishes in the top three do it?" said Postecoglou on Tottenham and United's critics ahead of the final in Bilbao later this month.

"It's a separate thing. It's got nothing to do with league form. We understand our league form hasn't been great.

"We understand the struggles we've had. A lot of them are because of the situation we've been in. But how that diminishes the achievement of getting to a final.

"Like I said, this club and others have finished in first, second or third in the Premier League, and haven't made finals. Why should that be diminished? I couldn't care less who's struggling and who's not. I think both us and Manchester United have earned the right to be there."

Tottenham eyeing move for Man City attacker James McAtee

Winning the competition and confirming their place in the Champions League next term will also play a key role in attracting desired transfer targets, and one of them is believed to be Man City playmaker James McAtee.

McAtee has attracted interest from Nottingham Forest and other sides ahead of the summer, with The Boot Room and journalist Graeme Bailey reporting that Spurs are also in the mix for his signature.

Overall, the Englishman has struggled to stake his claim as a regular in Guardiola's starting elevens, which is hard to do, but McAtee has still impressed when given the opportunity - scoring seven goals in all competitions.

Bailey reports that Tottenham are keen on signing McAtee this summer, and the 22-year-old is eager to pursue more game time away from the Etihad.

While Guardiola hasn't quite found enough room for the ex-Sheffield United star, he's still lavished McAtee with praise when it comes to ability.

"I am so happy for him, he is a special player. A hat-trick is not easy," said Guardiola about McAtee earlier this term, after a hat-trick against Salford City in the FA Cup.

"He has an incredible sense in front of goal, he has the right tempo, he changed the rhythm to score, and I am very happy for him."

Fair to say it's been an eventful season for Tottenham Hotspur supporters, but it could have the happiest of endings.

Spurs have lost 19 Premier League matches this season to date, one more would be their most in a single campaign since 1935, thereby languishing 16th in the table.

However, on Thursday night, the Lilywhites overcame Bodø/Glimt in the Arctic Circle, so will now face Manchester United in the Europa League Final at San Mamés on 21 May.

Thus, Ange Postecoglou is potentially 90 minutes away from delivering Tottenham's first trophy since 2008 and Champions League qualification, but Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport believes the Aussie could still be sacked, even if his team triumph in Bilbao.

So, who does Daniel Levy have in mind as a potential successor, and could his dream candidate be a José Mourinho repeat?

Tottenham's top target to replace Postecoglou

According to a report by Gianluca Di Marzio, Fulham manager Marco Silva is top of Levy's list to become the new Spurs boss this summer, adding that the 47-year-old is 'very popular' amongst the Tottenham hierarchy.

As outlined by Dave Tickner of Football 365, there are numerous other candidates in the fray for this post, including Mauricio Pochettino, Kieran McKenna and Scott Parker, as well as Andoni Iraola, who, as noted by Jack Pitt-Brooke and Jay Harris of the Athletic, was the 'leading candidate' to get the job.

However, George Flood of the Evening Standard believes Spurs would face a 'tough battle' to 'coax' the Spaniard away from Bournemouth, hence why Silva now appears to be the front-runner.

So, would the Portuguese be a success in North London, or would he fare similarly to his compatriot who recently occupied the Hotspur hot seat?

Why Marco Silva would be a good fit for Tottenham

If ever a manager has burst onto the scene, Micah Richards style, it's Marco Silva, first coming to the attention of a Premier League-watching audience in 2017 when he was appointed Hull City manager.

At the time, the Tigers were rock-bottom of the division, having won just one of the previous 18 games and, as outlined by Aaron Barton of Opta's the Analyst, while he failed to keep Hull up, six wins from nine home games, most-notably beating Liverpool 2-0, caught the eye of others.

So, let's assess Silva's managerial career so far.

As the table outlines, after bouncing around Hull, Watford and Everton, Silva has really found a home in West London, winning the Championship title in 2022, on course to lead Fulham to a third successive mid-table finish, currently knocking on the door of European qualification.

For his work at Craven Cottage, Dean Jones of GiveMeSport has labelled Silva a "genius", while Mak Pakhei of Total Football Analysis praises his tactical adaptability and flexibility, which allows Fulham to compete against the Premier League's elite, doing so 'without heavy investment'.

Meantime, as outlined by Nick Wright of Sky Sports, Silva and the aforementioned Mourinho are 'old friends', with the Fulham boss thanking his compatriot for changing how Portuguese coaches are viewed abroad.

Silva has previously been dubbed the 'new Mourinho', but their styles are very different, with Silva's teams more attacking, proactive and on the front-foot.

Well, of course, lest we forget, Mourinho was Spurs manager for a period of time, but supporters would hope Silva's potential tenure would go rather better, with Jack Pitt-Brooke of the Athletic outlining how José's 'defensive tactics...reactive training and repeated public criticism of the players' in the media resulted in his downfall.

Despite the lazy, nationality-driven comparisons, Silva and Mourinho are very different coaches, and the current Fulham boss appears to have all the attributes to be a success at Spurs, potentially in charge of them for a Champions League campaign come September.

Tottenham Hotspur are succession planning ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, with manager Ange Postecoglou expected to potentially leave regardless of the result of their Europa League campaign.

Ange Postecoglou guides Spurs to Europa League final

Following their comfortable 5-1 win over Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt on aggregate in the semi-finals, Postecoglou has a golden opportunity to clinch Spurs' first piece of major silverware in over 17 years.

The Lilywhites face Premier League rivals Man United in the Bilbao final on May 21, knowing that a win has the potential to rescue their otherwise dismal campaign.

Domestically, Spurs have equalled their largest number of Premier League defeats in a single campaign (19), and with three games still to play, Postecoglou could yet break the unwanted record for his CV.

Their place in the Europa League final represents an unmissable chance to make history amid their tepid 24/25, with a place in next season's Champions League draw also on the line in a potentially very lucrative 90 minutes for Spurs.

That being said, even victory in the final won't guarantee a long-term future for Postecoglou in the dugout.

It is believed that Postecoglou could leave Tottenham regardless of their success in the Europa League later this month (The Telegraph), with chairman Daniel Levy and the hierarchy reportedly drawing up a list of candidates to succeed the 59-year-old.

Ex-managing director Fabio Paratici is also heavily linked with a return to Spurs right now, given his worldwide ban from football is due to end on June 30th.

Reports are even claiming that Paratici is giving his managerial recommendations to Tottenham, in the event they part company with Postecoglou, with the Italian thought to be a big admirer of ex-Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi.

Marco Silva top of Tottenham's managerial list to replace Ange Postecoglou

However, according to Sky Sports transfer reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, writing on his website, £4m-per-year Fulham boss Marco Silva is now thought to be the leading contender.

Silva has done an excellent job at Craven Cottage, and they're on course to break their Premier League points record for a single season. Fulham are on 51 points right now, just two away from their previous best haul of 53, and they briefly contended for Champions League qualification this campaign against all odds.

Following these exploits, Di Marzio states that Silva is the "first name" on Tottenham's list to replace Postecoglou, with the Portuguese ultimately entering pole position for the job.

Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola was rumoured to be the top managerial candidate for Spurs and Levy at one point, but the 42-year-old has now been seemingly overtaken by Silva.

As well as overachieving at Fulham, the tactician has been called a "master" by previous players under his leadership.

"He is a master," said former Hull City striker Evandro to Premier League Brasil.

"I like to put Marco Silva on the same level as [Jorge] Sampaoli, because he has a management model that I also look up to. Marco Silva has an excellent way of managing the group, and his greatest characteristic is being rational and not emotional."