TOTTENHAM are no longer considering Julian Nagelsmann to be their next manager.
The German, 35, was a contender to become permanent successor to Antonio Conte, who left the club in March.
But Spurs have decided against making a move for Nagelsmann, insisting they have NOT met the ex-Bayern Munich boss nor do they intend to.
A source at the North Londoners maintained the club has “great respect” for the former RB Leipzig chief but he was not one for them right now.
It means interest in the likes of Arne Slot, who has taken Feyenoord to the top of the Eredivisie, and former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, currently boss of Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, could ramp up in the coming weeks.
Sporting Lisbon chief Ruben Amorim is also admired, though the Portuguese is understood to have a sky-high release clause of £17.43million for foreign clubs.
Another candidate is Oliver Glasner, who will leave Eintracht Frankfurt in the summer with Nagelsmann’s former No2 Dino Toppmoller the favourite to replace him.
Spurs have been without a permanent boss since Conte departed on March 27, 47 days ago.
The Italian’s assistant Cristian Stellini was handed the reins on an interim basis until he himself was sacked following the 6-1 defeat at Newcastle last month and replaced by Ryan Mason until the end of the season.
Tottenham are also without a director of football since Fabio Paratici resigned last month.
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It is understood that Spurs would not necessarily need to hire a new director of football before appointing a manager.
But if they were to name a new head coach first, they would ensure their character and approach fit in with any prospective director of football appointed further down the line.
They are very keen to avoid the chaotic summer of 2021 where Spurs came close to appointing a number of managers before finally plumping for Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked five months later and replaced by Conte.
Spurs are currently sixth in the Premier League and visit Aston Villa tomorrow where a victory would go a huge way to guaranteeing European football next season.
Meanwhile, one fan reacted to the Nagelsmann news with a tweet saying: “Tottenham are a joke. The fact that Nagelsmann is off, shows the lack of vision at Tottenham.”
“This Tottenham Club is so finished,” blasted another.
Another wrote: “We yet again look pathetic by saying we had no interest in a manager that ticked every box.”
As a fellow Spurs fan commented: “What a joke Tottenham Hotspur one of the best young managers available and we’re not interested again the cheap option… Enough is Enough.”
