Mauricio Pochettino eyed for sensational Spurs return but key obstacle remains

Daily Mirror

11 hours ago

Tottenham enjoyed a successful period with Mauricio Pochettino at the helm and he's being considered as a replacement for Ange Postecoglou - but finances may scupper any hope of a return
Mauricio Pochettino is being considered as the next Tottenham manager but it would take a mammoth fee to get him back to north London given he's currently in charge of the USA national team.
Daniel Levy is on the lookout for another new manager after sacking Ange Postecoglou on Friday. The Australian won the Europa League, but it wasn't enough to keep him in a job given a dire Premier League campaign, which saw them finish 17th.
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A list of possible replacements has been drawn up with Pochettino, who led the club for five years, being linked with a return to the post he left in 2019.
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The Argentine has since gone on to lead the likes of PSG and Chelsea but now finds himself in international management with the USA, who are looking forward to hosting the World Cup next year with Pochettino at the helm.
The BBC reports that if Tottenham wanted to get Pochettino out of his contract and back to Tottenham the compensation package they would have to pay would be one of the "biggest in football history".
That could leave them looking elsewhere despite there previously being talk of a return for Pochettino, who was axed just months after guiding the club to the final of the Champions League. Despite missing out on a trophy he consistently got Tottenham into the top four, finishing second in 2017.
He previously admitted a return was on his radar, but not right now: "I am in the USA, so I am not going to talk about that now - but what I said then I still, after six years or five years, feel in my heart. Yes, I would like one day to come back."
Brentford boss Thomas Frank is among the other names being considered to replacement Postecoglou. He's continued to work impressively in west London despite losing his best players annually, yet he's been able to ensure Brentford consolidate themselves in the top flight.
He has a £10million release clause though and Tottenham are also considering Fulham's Marco Silva. The Portuguese boss recently claimed he intends to remain as the Cottagers boss, but has been shortlisted.