Tottenham Hotspur have identified Fulham manager Marco Silva as their top target to replace Antonio Conte, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Manager search underway

Tottenham's manager search is now said to be well underway, in light of the recent news that the club are poised to mutually part ways with Conte at the end of the season, and there have been some big names linked with the job.

Late last week, it emerged that former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique was the 'lead contender' for sporting director Fabio Paratici, with the former Champions League winner available after leaving the Spain job in the wake of their World Cup exit.

Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim is also being targeted by Spurs, while the links to Mauricio Pochettino are sure to get fans excited, and his arrival is deemed to be 'quite likely', as long as chairman Daniel Levy gives the green light.

The Latest: Silva the main candidate

According to a report from The Sun, Silva has now emerged as Tottenham's top target to replace Conte in the summer, with Conte's departure deemed to be inevitable, given that no talks have taken place about extending his stay.

The 45-year-old is viewed by the club as an extremely talented young boss, having rebuilt his reputation at Fulham after getting sacked by Everton in his previous Premier League job.

Levy is also said to be impressed by the Portuguese tactician's ability to build a competitive squad without breaking the bank.

The Verdict: Right man for the job?

Hailed as 'outstanding' by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, the Fulham boss did a fine job leading his side to promotion from the second tier last season, and he has started very well in the Premier League, with the Cottagers currently sitting in eighth.

The former Watford boss, who mainly utilises a 4-2-3-1 formation, has won four trophies in his managerial career, although none of these have been in Europe's 'big five' leagues, which casts doubt on whether he would be able to make the step up to Spurs.

Given that Champions League-winning managers are on Paratici's radar to replace Conte, including the likes of Enrique and Thomas Tuchel, it is fair to say that Silva would be an underwhelming appointment.

As such, the Tottenham hierarchy should assess their options at the end of the season, as they are likely to be able to attract a more proven manager if they can achieve a top-four finish.