Feyenoord boss Arne Slott is emerging as a serious contender alongside Julian Nagelsmann to become Tottenham Hotspur’s next head coach, sources have told ESPN.
Slott has taken Feyenoord to the top of the Dutch Eredivisie in pursuit of their first title since 2017, losing just one league game all season.
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Spurs are considering a number of candidates to replace Antonio Conte, who was sacked on March 27, sparking a chaos that saw his assistant Christian Stellini given interim duties before he was sacked and replaced by Ryan Mason after last month’s 6-1 rout. was done Beaten by Newcastle United.
Slott is under contract at Feyenoord until 2025 and only has a clause in his contract that allows him to join a Premier League club in 2024 — meaning the Dutch club would be entitled to compensation if he leaves. However, sources have told ESPN that he has previously attracted the attention of other English clubs, including Chelsea and West Ham United.
Spurs do not want to miss out on hiring a lesser-known coach after rejecting Erik ten Hag following Jose Mourinho’s departure from the club, according to sources.
Ten Hague could win a cup double with Manchester United in his debut campaign. United have already claimed the Carabao Cup and will face rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final later this month.
Sources have told ESPN that Slott is on the club’s shortlist along with Nagelsmann and at least one stranger candidate as Daniel Levy is set to make his 12th permanent appointment in 22 years as chairman.
The complications surrounding Nagelsmann’s departure from Bayern Munich make him an expensive option as the Bundesliga club are reportedly set to pay the 35-year-old despite his sacking in March.
Nagelsmann held a series of talks with Chelsea over their vacant managerial position but withdrew from the running after being disappointed in the process as they committed to talking to multiple people, narrowing their shortlist from seven, with Mauricio Pochettino identified as their first choice. .
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Sources have told ESPN that Spurs have yet to make contact with former boss Pochettino but other names have been discussed internally, including Brendan Rodgers.
Levy has spoken to Rodgers about becoming Spurs manager in the past and is out of a job after leaving Leicester City by mutual consent on 3 April.
It is unclear whether Rodgers is on Tottenham’s shortlist. A source also suggested Mainz boss Bo Svensson is being considered while Celtic’s Ange Postecloglou and Brighton’s Roberto Di Zarby have been linked with the vacancy.
Tottenham dropped to sixth in the league after Sunday’s 4-3 defeat at Liverpool and are all but certain to miss out on next season’s Champions League qualification. They are nine points behind fourth-placed Manchester United with two games remaining.
Spurs face a battle to secure any European football next season — whose absence will make it difficult to attract a top coach — while any potential manager will seek assurances over Harry Kane’s future.
The 29-year-old is expected to discuss his situation at the end of the season, when he has a year left on his current deal.