Tottenham: Enrique open to manager talks

Tottenham Hotspur managerial target Luis Enrique would be open to talks about replacing Antonio Conte, according to a report from The Times.

The Lowdown: Enrique top target?

There have been conflicting reports about Tottenham’s main target to replace Conte in recent days, with it initially being suggested that Enrique was the ‘lead contender’ for the job, despite the availability of Mauricio Pochettino.

A more recent update indicated that Marco Silva is Daniel Levy’s first choice, however Fulham have moved swiftly to deter Spurs from making a move for the Portuguese coach, recently accelerating talks with their manager about a new deal.

It remains unclear which manager will be prioritised by the Tottenham board, but they have now been given a boost in their pursuit of Enrique…

The Latest: Open to talks

As per a report from The Times, all parties now expect Conte to move on in the summer, with the Italian’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, and the former Barcelona boss would be open to replacing him.

The 52-year-old, who has been out of work since leaving Spain in December, is interested in working in the Premier League, and would be willing to make a swift return to management if the right opportunity presented itself.

The Verdict: Get it done?

The Spaniard has a proven history of managing teams at the very highest level, enjoying a remarkably successful spell at Barca, during which time he won nine trophies, including the 2014-15 Champions League, also being named by world’s best club coach in the same year.

Hailed as a ‘genius‘ by members of the media, the Gijon-born tactician predominantly favours an attacking 4-3-3 formation, indicating he would bring an exciting brand of football to N17, which it could be argued is needed, given that Jamie O’Hara has recently described Conte’s play style as ‘diabolical’ and ‘awful to watch’.

That being said, the former Celta Vigo boss is unproven outside of Spain, and he was also unsuccessful as Spain manager in his most recent spell, with his side crashing out of the World Cup against Morocco at the round of 16 stage.

As such, appointing Enrique would be a risk, especially considering there are managers available with proven Premier League experience, including Pochettino, who would be available for free after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, while Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi has also recently been linked.