Tottenham Hotspur have drawn up a very enticing four-man managerial shortlist as they continue to look for a long-term successor to Jose Mourinho.
The Lowdown: Mason unlikely to get Tottenham job
Given that he has only come in on an interim basis until the end of the season, and has had no prior managerial experience before he got the job in North London, it is highly unlikely that Ryan Mason will become the permanent manager.
The Lilywhites are also at risk of missing out on European football for the next term after they lost 2-1 at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday evening, and added to the Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, Mason has likely not done enough in his short time in charge to prove he could handle the permanent gig.
The Latest: Tottenham draw up managerial shortlist
As per The Athletic, THFC have drawn up a four-man managerial shortlist that includes Ralf Rangnick, Graham Potter, Roberto Martinez and Erik Ten Hag.
Interestingly, Rangnick was reportedly interested in succeeding Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham back in 2019, while the other three names will be very familiar to the Spurs faithful.
Potter is currently the manager at Brighton and Hove Albion, while Martinez has also managed in English football with Swansea City, Wigan Athletic and Everton.
Ten Hag is the Ajax boss that the North London club famously beat in the UEFA Champions League semi-final to set themselves up for a final against Liverpool back in the 2018/2019 campaign.
The Verdict: Premier League experience may be key
While all of the managers listed above certainly each have their own individual merits, one cannot underestimate the experience of managing in the top flight.
That would cut that shortlist down to either Potter or Martinez, the former unique for a team near the bottom of the league with his progressive style of play, while the latter has already achieved great things in England, most notably masterminding a 1-0 FA Cup final win with the Latics over Manchester City back in 2013.
Both would be inspired appointments, as the Lilywhites look to bounce back quickly from what has ultimately been a disappointing season.