Tottenham appear to have been handed a huge boost in their search for a new manager with Carlo Ancelotti reportedly set to return to Real Madrid.
Following Zinedine Zidane’s exit from the Santiago Bernabeu last week, Mauricio Pochettino, who has been heavily linked with a Tottenham homecoming, was installed as one of the favourites for the job in the Spanish capital.
Antonio Conte, also mentioned in regards to the current Spurs vacancy, was also tipped for the top job after parting ways with Inter Milan.
However, Spanish publication Marca now claim that the La Liga giants have indeed made their mind up on who they want to succeed Zidane and Ancelotti’s arrival from Everton will be confirmed in a matter of hours.
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Currently contracted at Goodison Park until the end of June 2024, the Italian was asked two weeks ago about a potential return to Madrid but he denied any truth in the links.
“This is good publicity for me to be linked with Real Madrid but it is not true,” he stated, as reported by Liverpool Echo.
“I am really happy to stay here. We have difficulties, of course, but I feel good at Everton and my target is to make Everton better and better every year.”
Ancelotti even spoke not so long ago about his desire to pen a contract extension that would see him manage the Toffees at their new stadium, which is due to open in time for the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
Despite his comments about the Real job and extending his stay on Merseyside, Ancelotti’s tenure on Merseyside now looks to be coming to an end with a return to Madrid after previously managing them between 2013 and 2015.
If indeed Los Blancos do confirm the experienced boss in place of Zidane as they look to make a swift appointment as they plan for next term, it will certainly boost Spurs’ chances of landing Pochettino for a second time.
Taking charge of Paris Saint-Germain at the start of the year, the Argentine guided his new side to two trophies but he couldn’t help the French club maintain their dominance in Ligue 1 as Lille pipped them to the title.
Initially signing an 18-month deal at the Parc des Princes upon his arrival in Paris, it now appears that the club have activated a contract extension going on PSG sporting director Leonardo’s latest comments about the head coach.
(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
“Mauricio Pochettino has two years on his contract here at PSG and we are very happy with him,” he told French radio station Europe 1 on Sunday night.
football.london reported last week that not only have Spurs spoken to Pochettino about coming back to north London but he would also be interested in a return.
While he did make it clear 12 months ago that he would like to take on the Spurs job again at some point in the future and finish what he started, as it stands, PSG have no intention of allowing him to depart so soon after his arrival.
However, football.london understands that Spurs have not given up hope yet of bringing Pochettino back to the club and it could well come down to the man himself and his relationship with the PSG hierarchy.
Mauricio Pochettino is in talks for a sensational return to Spurs.
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Spurs still have plenty of time to make an appointment with the players not due to return to Hotspur Way for pre-season for a while yet, although all would ideally like the new manager to be confirmed as soon as possible so they can start their plans for the 2021/22 campaign.
Tottenham also like Ajax boss Erik ten Hag and the Dutchman is believed to have shown an interest in a move, while there have also been links with former Chelsea boss Conte.
Ancelotti taking on the Real Madrid job again instead of Pochettino will certainly still give Tottenham hope of landing their former man but that is easier said than done with PSG looking to keep him in Paris.