David Ornstein believes Mauricio Pochettino could be open to re-joining Tottenham Hotspur if Antonio Conte leaves.
The Lowdown: Uncertain future off the pitch
Spurs had been doing quite well in the absence of Conte prior to their last two results, which saw them beaten 1-0 by Sheffield United and Wolves, with the Lilywhites dumped out of the FA Cup and slipping behind in the top-four race.
Conte returned in midweek for Spurs as they welcomed Milan to N17 in the Champions League, but it may just be the start of his long and drawn-out departure from the club.
There have been claims that Conte’s future as Spurs manager next season is in serious doubt, so subsequent claims suggesting Pochettino may replace him were always likely to arise sooner rather than later, and may yet intensify in the wake of their Champions League exit.
The Latest: Pochettino may be open to replacing Conte
While speaking on Sky Sports prior to Spurs’ lacklustre performance against Milan, Ornstein has insisted that given he's out of work and loving life in Hertfordshire, Pochettino could well be open to re-joining Tottenham if they came calling.
He said: "I don't think he's any more or less credible, he's a top manager and a really good character who's out of work, and will surely come under consideration for any top club.
"That's the important thing here, because he may be open to a return to Tottenham, he may be open to other options as well. There's talk of pressure for Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid and I suspect that Pochettino would be under consideration at clubs like that. There may be other vacancies that arise as well.
"There is a convenience factor here, 1) because Pochettino lives in Hertfordshire; 2) because he knows Tottenham and Daniel Levy well, and there will be that temptation, if and when Antonio Conte leaves, to turn back the clock."
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The Verdict: Levy may go back to what he knows
In hindsight, Levy may well be ruing the day he sacked Pochettino - the man who managed to guide Spurs into title contention and a Champions League final, so this could be his chance to rectify that mistake.
Pochettino has been out of work for some time now, which could be a cause for concern to some Spurs fans and perhaps Levy himself, but given the great times he brought to the club, he could end up the natural pick this summer.
The Argentinian was reportedly a target for Tottenham prior to Levy appointing Conte as Nuno Espirito Santo's successor, so he is still clearly well-liked within the club - and this could be exactly what's needed to get fans and players all singing from the same hymn sheet again.