The Boy Hotspur

Mauricio Pochettino could still return to Tottenham Hotspur, and it’s one of the most popular permutations being discussed right now.

Igor Tudor as interim head coach until the end of the current season (which runs through spring/summer 2026). The club appears to be treating this as a short-term fix while planning for a permanent appointment in the summer, after the 2026 FIFA World Cup concludes.

Multiple reports indicate that Pochettino is the “clear favourite,” “consensus candidate,” or even “100% likely” in the eyes of some observers, including former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood.

“We know who is coming in the summer – it will be Pochettino, 100 per cent. I do not think the club will be brave enough to turn to anyone else. There are other options out there but the pressure on another man getting that job and losing two games and then the crowd saying ‘you had a chance to bring Poch back’ – it is impossible for them to look elsewhere.”

The Spurs board is reportedly working to finalise an agreement with him for a permanent role starting post-World Cup. The Mirror say that a deal is taking shape.

Pochettino is currently the head coach of the United States men’s national team (USMNT), a role he took on in 2024. His contract with US Soccer expires after the 2026 World Cup (co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico), so he would become available in July 2026 or shortly thereafter. He has repeatedly spoken positively about his time at Tottenham (2014–2019), calling it the “most special” place in his heart, expressing a desire to return to the Premier League, and even saying he dreams of winning the league and Champions League—goals he associates strongly with Spurs. He has not ruled out a return and has kept the door open in interviews.

Our View

Tottenham might consider other candidates (e.g., Roberto De Zerbi has been mentioned), but Pochettino’s popularity with fans and his past success (Champions League final, consistent top-four finishes) make him the standout sentimental and practical option.

In our view, Tim Sherwood has nailed it.

Who knew there were financial implications for ENIC for running the club into the ground, season after season? Well, those of us in the adult seats were all too well aware.

Now, Matt Law for The Telegraph has done a piece on the implications.

Spurs are in a strong position

For the 2024-25 season, Deloitte’s Football Money League (released Jan 2026) ranked them 9th globally with ~€673m (£586m) revenue—up ~9%—driven by commercial (£287m+), match day (£131m), and broadcast (£168m) streams.

This placed them ahead of Chelsea but behind Arsenal in England. The 2025-26 season has added ~£44m from Champions League participation (participation fees, wins, and league phase bonuses).

Wage bill: ~£249m in 2024-25 (7th in PL), with estimates for 2025-26 around £200-250m (base payroll ~£126-137m, excluding bonuses).

A £100m equity injection from majority owners ENIC (Lewis family) in October 2025 bolstered the balance sheet, alongside £851m in mostly fixed-rate, long-term stadium debt (net debt £773m). Club valuation: Approx $3.3bn.

Telegraph Sport points out the vulnerabilities

“At least one of Tottenham’s long-standing and most prominent sponsorship deals is due to expire at the end of the season, and there are doubts as to whether the company will renew, and on what terms if they do.”

“The penalties for missing Europe alone run into tens of millions. That would be even bigger and potentially catastrophic if the club were relegated.”

…from July 2027, AIA will become the global training partner, with the brand only featuring on the club’s training kit, until 2032. The new AIA deal is thought to be worth £10m-£15m a year.

Beyond the lack of European football, there’s also the business of replacing AIA as the principal front of match days shirt sponsor. Experts the Telegraph spoke to experts predicted ENIC may struggle to match the current £40m-a-year AIA deal unless the current situation improves.

Tottenham enters 2026-27 as a top-10 revenue club (£500m+ base) with elite commercial assets, but survival is make-or-break.

Avoiding relegation preserves Big Six status and spending flexibility under new rules; demotion triggers austerity and sales.

With owners’ backing and a solid core, they’re built to weather storms—but mid-table consolidation is the realistic path to sustained growth.

The suggestion that the board at Spurs have no control over the club took another boost when a press day saw the club routinely derided by a Northern Irish comedian, Vittorio Angelon. The Saracens’ primary home ground is StoneX Stadium (formerly Allianz Park) in Hendon, North London, where they have played since 2012. This is a dedicated rugby venue with a capacity of around 10,500.

However, Saracens have a long-term partnership with Tottenham Hotspur to host their annual marquee fixture called “The Showdown” at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This event, which started in 2022, allows them to play in a much larger venue (with a capacity of over 62,000) for bigger crowds and atmosphere.

Quite how funny Tottenham fans found this guy’s work is predictable stuff, with responses on X being less than amused.

The context of this type of thing is key. When you’re winning, things don’t tend to hurt so much. Spurs are currently just 5 points clear of the relegation zone (5 points above 18th-placed West Ham). Leeds United sit 15th with 30 points, and Nottingham Forest are 17th with 27 points, so the gap to safety is narrow but not dire yet, with 12 games remaining in the season.

Tottenham remain under significant relegation threat due to poor recent form. They have won only 2 of their last 17 Premier League games.

In the 2026 calendar year, they’ve picked up very few points (some reports note just 4 points from 8 games, winless in that stretch). This led to manager Thomas Frank being sacked on February 11, 2026, after a 2-1 home loss to Newcastle United. Igor Tudor has taken over as the new manager (or interim), tasked with turning things around.

Betting odds have them at around 5/1 for relegation recently, and media describe the threat as “real” given the slide from expected top-half contention (they’ve performed better in Europe but struggled domestically).

They are not in immediate danger of dropping (still above the zone with a buffer), but the form slump, managerial change, and tight points margins mean they are uncomfortably close and in a relegation scrap.

A few more poor results could drag them right into the bottom three battle—especially with tough upcoming fixtures like against Arsenal.

Antonio Nusa has performed well since joining German club RB Leipzig and has attracted the attention of Tottenham Hotspur.

According to a report from FussballDaten, there is ‘great interest’ in signing the Norwegian attacker, and several clubs are following him. However, Tottenham are ‘closely monitoring’ him ahead of a potential summer move. He is likely to cost around €60 million, and it will be interesting to see if Tottenham is willing to pay up.

Spurs could use Antonio Nusa

They need more quality on the flanks, and the 20-year-old will add pace, flair and unpredictability to the team. He has the technical attributes to thrive in the Premier League. He has also been linked with a move to England during his time in Belgium. Nusa has been likened to Neymar because of his playing style.

It will be interesting to see if he can finally secure a move to the Premier League this summer. The opportunity to play for Tottenham could be exciting for him. The London club recently dealt with the German club when they signed Xavi Simons. It will be interesting to see if they can use the amicable terms between the two clubs to get a deal done for Nusa as well.

Nusa could be tempted to join

Regular football in England could help the young attacker improve further and fulfil his potential. Tottenham could provide him with the platform to compete at a high level.

It will be interesting to see whether any other club is willing to make a lucrative offer to sign the player. Spurs must look to act quickly in order to get ahead of their rivals in the transfer race.

The 20-year-old is quite young, and he will only improve with coaching and experience. He could justify the €60 million investment in future and establish himself as a star for the club.

Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Igor Tudor as their manager until the end of the season.

He is expected to get the team back on track and deliver positive results in the coming weeks. They have had a disappointing season so far, and they are 16th in the league table. Thomas Frank was sacked after a series of disappointing results, and it remains to be seen whether Tudor can hit the ground running in the Premier League.

Igor Tudor impresses with first words

The newly appointed Tottenham manager has already shown a stark contrast with Frank in terms of mentality. When Thomas Frank arrived, he promised the fans they would lose matches, so expectations had to be managed. On the other hand, Tudor has declared that he is here to win matches and not to draw or lose.

“We want to win,” Tudor stated (via CaughtOffside). “You can’t go out there aiming for a draw. We take the field to win; you don’t prepare matches to draw. My focus is clear: to bring greater consistency to our performances and compete with conviction in every match.”

Can Tudor turn it around?

The stark contrast in mentality already shows that he is a better option for Tottenham compared to Frank. A club of their stature should be pushing for trophies and looking to win games. Instead, Frank’s defeatist mentality showed that he was never really a good fit for the north London club.

However, it is easier said than done. It will be interesting to see if Tudor can get the best out of his players over the next few months. Tottenham will be aiming to finish in a respectable position in the league table. If he manages to impress over the next few months, he might be able to land the job permanently.

Regardless, his comments will certainly excite the Tottenham fans, and it remains to be seen whether he can deliver now.

Christian Pulisic has been linked with a move away from AC Milan, and clubs like Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are interested in signing the player.

However, a report from Fichajes claims that Tottenham have taken the initiative with initial talks, and they have a competitive edge over their rivals in the race to sign the United States International.

Spurs lead the Christian Pulisic race

It appears that Tottenham have intensified their efforts to fill the void left by Son Heung-min. They believe the 27-year-old United States international could be the ideal acquisition. He has shown his quality in Italy with AC Milan, and he has 10 goals to his name in all competitions this season. He has previously shown his quality in the Premier League with Chelsea. His previous experience of English football should help him settle quickly and make an immediate impact at the north London club. It will be interesting to see if Tottenham can negotiate a reasonable deal to sign the player.

Pulisic has entered the final 18 months of his contract at the Italian club, and this could be the right time for Milan to cash in on him. It remains to be seen how the situation develops. Pulisic has been hailed as a “coach’s dream”.

Pulisic could transform Spurs’ attack

Pulisic will add flair, pace and goals in the final third. Tottenham need more unpredictability in the attack, and the 27-year-old could be the ideal acquisition for them. He has the quality and the experience to help them improve immediately.

He has played for big clubs like Chelsea and AC Milan, and he should be able to make a defining impact at Tottenham, helping them push for trophies. He previously won the UEFA Champions League while in England.

Meanwhile, players like Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze have been quite underwhelming this season, and Arsenal need more quality on the wings. The former Chelsea star would have been a quality acquisition for them as well.

The mess that ENIC are in could not be represented more clearly than the latest leak from Paul O’Keefe, who has a frankly unmatchable track record in Tottenham gossip, given his connections at both the club and within the football market.

We were told that the board got rid of Frank, but it was the Lewis family.

Because the club briefed it to all journalists and they swallowed it. VV was told to sack him. He and Lange wanted to keep Frank.

— Paul O Keefe (@pokeefe1) February 12, 2026

The final authority and push to sack Frank rested with the Lewis family (Joe Lewis’s heirs/family trust as the controlling owners), not Vinai himself. Vinai and Lange were hesitant.

Joe Lewis, though the billionaire behind the original ENIC ownership, is no longer directly hands-on, but the family acts in that capacity.

This marks the first major managerial sacking in the post-Daniel Levy era at Spurs, highlighting the shift in power toward the Lewis family.

The club is actively searching for a replacement and appears to be prioritising options, with discussions ongoing for both interim (short-term until the end of the 2025-26 season) and permanent appointments.

Spurs are reportedly aiming to have someone in place quickly, potentially by Monday, for training, according to Alasdair Gold.

Mauricio Pochettino remains a strong long-term favourite for a romantic return. He has been spotted in London, is keen on the job (citing unfinished business), and has reportedly been offered it or is a highly desired post-2026 World Cup (where he’s currently managing the USA national team).

An immediate appointment is complicated or “impossible” due to his commitments, so an interim solution might bridge to a summer move.

Roberto De Zerbi is highly appreciated internally and open to a Premier League return. He’s been linked strongly, with talks potentially developing.

Igor Tudor has emerged as a serious and strong candidate in the last day or so, with first contacts already underway, according to reliable Italian journalist Matteo Moretto. This seems to be gaining traction.

The new kid in the rumour mill block this morning is Marco Rose. Matt Law of The Telegraph, and Tom Barclay of The Sun, as well as The Boy Hotspur’s Substack, have shown keen interest in the suggestion that Rose is on his way to Tottenham. Barclay believes he’s still on RB Leipzig’s payroll despite leaving the club in March.

I’m told Marco Rose is keen for his next job to be in England. Believe he’s still on RB Leipzig’s payroll despite leaving the club in March

— Tom Barclay (@TomBarclay_) February 13, 2026

This comes amid speculation linking Rose to the vacant Tottenham Hotspur manager position following the sacking of Thomas Frank. Multiple outlets report that the 49-year-old German (formerly of Borussia Dortmund, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and RB Leipzig—where he was sacked in March 2025) has emerged as the bookmakers’ favourite for the Spurs job.

Sources describe Tottenham’s hierarchy viewing his aggressive pressing style and tactical discipline as a strong fit to stabilise the squad. While no formal contact has been confirmed yet, he’s seen as an uncomplicated option since he’s currently unemployed (or at least available, potentially still receiving payments from Leipzig).

Rose has no prior experience managing in England, but his high regard reputation in German football, combined with his expressed preference, has fuelled the links, especially to a Premier League club like Tottenham right now.

Playing to win

Tactical Alignment: Rose is heavily influenced by Jürgen Klopp’s style, from his early career connections, and the Red Bull philosophy (high-intensity pressing, counter-pressing, vertical/forward play, and quick transitions).

His teams typically use formations like 4-2-2-2, 4-2-3-1, or variations with a diamond midfield, emphasising aggressive high pressing, compactness defensively, and fast, direct attacks rather than slow build-up. Tottenham’s squad has pacey attackers and dynamic midfielders who could thrive in a high-energy, pressing system—something Spurs fans have craved, consistent intensity and “playing to win” mentality.

A track Record of overachieving

He excelled at RB Salzburg, winning domestic titles and making strong European runs, qualified for the Champions League with Borussia Mönchengladbach, won the DFB-Pokal with RB Leipzig (2023), and had decent points-per-game averages (around 1.85 at Leipzig and Dortmund). He’s shown he can implement an exciting, proactive style that gets results at clubs with ambitious but not always top-tier resources.

Considering the current state of the Tottenham board, the squad’s form, and the suspension of captain Cristian Romero, the incoming manager is undoubtedly stepping into a ‘baptism of fire’. TheBoyHotspur’s Substack understands 3 names have been the primary focus this week of steadying the ship.

Marco Rose

One of the names being discussed most fervently both in the betting markets and the club corridors is Marco Rose. The German tactician, who has been unattached since leaving RB Leipzig, is currently at the top of the shortlist. The Tottenham hierarchy views Rose’s philosophy of aggressive pressing and tactical discipline as the exact profile needed to swiftly stabilise the squad.

Roberto De Zerbi

Following his surprise departure from Marseille, many are describing the timing for the Italian manager as a “stroke of luck” for Spurs. De Zerbi’s previous Premier League experience with Brighton and his attractive, expansive brand of football make him a natural candidate for the role. However, Sky Sports reports (via journalist Michael Bridge) that De Zerbi wants a break from management right now and is not interested in the Tottenham job in the short term — whether permanent or interim.

Bookmakers and fan discussions have him high on the list alongside Pochettino, but nothing is close to confirmed. There’s also mention of his “baggage” (personality, demands for control, past incidents) as a potential concern for Spurs.

John Heitinga (The Interim Solution)

Having joined Thomas Frank’s coaching staff in January, Heitinga is currently the most prepared “in-house” candidate. If the board fails to reach an immediate agreement with a permanent successor, the most likely scenario is for Heitinga to be in the dugout for the upcoming North London Derby against Arsenal. John is in the loop with the board with respect to this, but understands his position.

Our view

Something off the menu, a little left-field is required from ENIC, and whilst names such as Tim Sherwood are doing the rounds, it is believed that so far, the club have been measured in its approach.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the Club Brugge midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic.

The 20-year-old has done quite well for the Belgian club, and he has attracted the attention of the North London club, along with other Premier League teams. According to a report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham have been scouting him regularly, and it remains to be seen whether they follow up with an official offer to sign the player.

Aleksandar Stankovic is a player in demand

“Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and United have been regular visitors to see Stankovic,” a source informed TEAMtalk. “He is a real class act. Not dissimilar to a young Declan Rice – that’s the comparison for me.

“You can see he’s inherited his class from his father. This kid is a major talent.”

The midfielder will add physicality and defensive steel in the middle of the park. He has been likened to the Arsenal star Declan Rice.

Multiple clubs are interested in the 20-year-old, and Spurs should look to act swiftly in order to win the race for his signature. They need more quality in the middle of the park, and Stankovic would be a long-term acquisition.

Stankovic could fancy a Premier League move

The opportunity to move to the Premier League will be exciting for the young midfielder as well. He would get to test himself at a higher level, and regular football in England could bring out the best in him. It will be interesting to see if Tottenham can negotiate a reasonable deal to sign him.

Rice has been exceptional since joining Arsenal, and a player with a similar skillset could transform Tottenham in the middle of the park. They will certainly hope to get the deal done during the summer transfer window.