Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt another body blow in their search to appoint Jose Mourinho's successor this summer, with Brighton and Hove Albion manager Graham Potter reportedly rejecting their approach, according to The Sun.

THE LOWDOWN: POTTER EMERGED AS POTENTIAL MOURINHO SUCCESSOR

Tottenham were rumoured to be interested in appointing the 46-year-old as their new manager as they continue the search for a replacement for Mourinho, who was sacked 10 weeks ago.

The Daily Mail had previously claimed that Nuno Espírito Santo was the club's first choice for the role, although they were said to have given 'serious thoughts' on appointing Potter as well.

THE LATEST: POTTER IS LATEST MANAGER TO SNUB SPURS

The Sun revealed that Potter has become the ninth manager to turn down the managerial vacancy at Tottenham. It was claimed that the Brighton boss didn't think that a move to Spurs would be a good career move for him at this stage.

The report added that Spurs remain 'in limbo' over appointing a new manager, with Daniel Levy looking to find Mourinho's replacement ahead of their season opener against Manchester City in August.

THE VERDICT: SPURS MUST NOW ACT SWIFTLY

It's slightly surprising that Potter has rejected Spurs' rumoured approach, especially given that Brighton had at times been in danger of being relegated from the Premier League last season and ultimately finished 16th, nine places beneath the north London side.

You would have thought that the Spurs job could have been a tempting one for Potter, who has been hailed for his "amazing" brand of football by Brighton defender Adam Webster and would seemingly fit the profile of the attack-minded coach that Levy is seeking.

Stability is now needed at Spurs and it's vital that they get this next appointment right, or else it could turn out to be another frustrating league campaign for the club's supporters next term. As it is, the long-winded search for the next permanent manager must be pretty galling.

In other news, Tottenham have been linked with a move for a Premier League captain.