Tottenham: Levy makes two ‘promises’ and will ‘concede ground’ to ‘finalise’ £6m deal for manager
Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy will reportedly ‘concede ground’ to Arne Slot to lure the head coach away from Eredivisie champions Feyenoord.
Spurs have been searching for a new permanent manager since Antonio Conte left the club at the start of March.
Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason have had spells as Tottenham’s interim boss since Conte’s departure and the club have endured a miserable end to the season.
Tottenham have won just two of their last nine games in the Premier League as they have slipped down to eighth. They are now likely to miss out on a place in Europe.
Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann have been mentioned as potential successors to Conte, but Fabrizio Romano reported last week that Slot is the “frontrunner”.
“Arne Slot is a serious candidate for the Tottenham job,” Romano said on his YouTube channel.
“There are contacts internally to decide on the manager but the first step will be new director, then the new manager, with Arne Slot for sure into the race.
“Luis Enrique is also appreciated. [Ruben] Amorim and [Ange] Postecoglu have been discussed. But Arne Slot is the frontrunner.”
The Dutchman has earned plaudits for his work at Feyenoord. They have won the Eredivisie title this season as they are ten points clear of second-placed Ajax.
Football Insider are now reporting that Levy has made a ‘transfer promise to get the Slot deal done’ with Spurs ‘willing to give’ him ‘control over transfers and his coaching staff’. They add.
‘Negotiations are progressing well between Spurs and the 44-year-old, and are now believed to be at an advanced stage.
‘The chief point of contention in discussions has been how much control Slot will have over transfers and the composition of his coaching staff.
‘Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is ready to concede ground on recruitment and staff to make sure the deal gets finalised.’
The report also points out that there is a ‘£6m release clause in his contract’ and he is ‘open’ to leaving Feyenoord.
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Slot himself has hinted that he would be willing to leave Feyenoord this summer after he turned down Leeds United earlier this season.
“Everyone needs clarity quickly,” he told ESPN. “I [rejected] Leeds in the winter and now I’m staying or leaving.
“My departure can also be good for the club, but if there is no dream club then I will stay.
“In football it is commonplace that you talk to clubs. I am not saying that I have done it now, but it is not forbidden that I talk to other clubs.”
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