Tottenham: Antonio Conte future update

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte is now at a ‘point of no return’ and is not expected to continue as manager beyond the summer, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Conte’s future in major doubt

There are conflicting reports about whether the Tottenham board are ready to fire Conte immediately, with Football Insider reporting the club have discussed the possibility of Ryan Mason taking over for the remainder of the season.

Sky Sports News have today reported that Tottenham players expect the manager to leave the club ‘sooner rather than later’, as they believe he crossed a line by calling them selfish and questioning their commitment to the club.

Contingency plans are being drawn up about potential replacements for the Italian, and whether he leaves now or at the end of the season, it seems that his future is in major doubt.

The Latest: Jones’ update

In an interview with GiveMeSport, Jones shared what he’s now heard about the 53-year-old’s future in north London. The transfer insider said:

“I don’t think it will change anything in terms of Conte’s future now.

“From every conversation I have, this is pretty much the point of no return and I don’t see how this can change.

“Conte was brought in to win a trophy and he hasn’t won a trophy. He wasn’t brought in to qualify for the top four and there are many managers that would have felt they could have delivered that. It does feel like it’s going to be time for a fresh start now.”

The Verdict: Bring back Poch?

With the former Inter Milan boss potentially departing the club at the end of the season, Spurs have been linked with a move for Mauricio Pochettino, and they are believed to have already made contact with the Argentine.

The 51-year-old is said to have made it clear he would ‘jump at the chance’ to return to N17, and he could be a shrewd appointment, averaging 1.83 points per match in his previous spell, which is an increase on the 1.79 average amassed by Conte.

However, there could also be doubts about whether Pochettino is the right man for the job, given that he has only ever won silverware as manager of Paris Saint-Germain. Conte has achieved success everywhere he’s been prior to Tottenham, winning a total of five league titles, so it would be a shame for him to leave at the end of the season, but Levy may have no other choice if team morale has been badly affected by his comments.