Tottenham Hotspur are seemingly on the lookout for a new permanent manager.
Speculation around Antonio Conte’s future at Spurs has intensified massively in recent days.
The Athletic claimed Tottenham have compiled a shortlist of candidates to replace the Italian as their next head coach.
The feeling at Spurs is that Conte’s departure from N17 is now “inevitable”, as per the report.
Plenty of candidates have been linked with the Tottenham reins.
However, none have – or will – elicit an emotional reaction amongst Tottenham fans quite like Mauricio Pochettino.
Now, Pochettino seems like a legitimate option for a return to the Spurs dugout.
After all, he’s not currently attached to a club, so Tottenham wouldn’t need to thrash out compensation.
It also feeds into that feel-good narrative, with Spurs’ former hero swooping in to save the day at N17.
‘No point messing about’
Indeed, Paul Merson seems pretty confident Tottenham will in fact get Pochettino in the summer.
The Arsenal legend wrote in The Daily Star: “Mauricio Pochettino is going to be appointed the manager of Tottenham in the summer, so why not get him now? There is no point messing about.
“What’s the point in keeping Antonio Conte, do you want to get in the top four or not? Spurs have just gone out of two competitions and it’s now been 15 years since their last trophy.”
Tottenham Hotspur-leaning pundit Jamie O’Hara certainly agrees with what Merson has said.
The former Spurs midfielder feels Daniel Levy should not even consider the likes of Thomas Tuchel and Thomas Frank.
When asked who he would like to see take over at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, O’Hara told GiveMeSport: “You don’t need three candidates.
“Get Pochettino in. Bring that sexy man back that everyone can see. That’s all we need, so get him in.
“There’s no candidates and there are good managers out there – you can say Thomas Tuchel and Thomas Frank – but no.
“Pochettino needs to come back to the football club. He’s got unfinished business.
“He left when Daniel Levy was being tight and now Daniel Levy has realised he can’t do that anymore.”
Could this backfire?
On paper, it seems like a perfect match.
However, the reality is, would Pochettino come back to a changed Tottenham?
Or would the problems that ended up culminating in his sacking resurface once again?
The Spurs squad is arguably weaker and more lopsided that it was when Pochettino left.
Also, he would likely be judged by what he did in the past and not be afforded time and/or a clean slate.
There’s a real risk Pochettino could end up tarnishing his legacy at Tottenham.
Spurs are in major need of surgery, the squad needs overhauling, and maybe someone who can bring about a real fresh start might be best for now.
In future, once Tottenham are stronger, then maybe Pochettino should take over. But not just yet.
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