Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper is refusing to be drawn on claims that he could replace Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur ahead of Saturday’s trip to the stuttering Premier League giants, speaking to Sky Sports.
Conte is still in a job as of Thursday afternoon but, already, the pursuit for his successor appears to be heating up.
According to Sky, Tottenham are already drawing up an initial long-list; Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Brighton’s Roberto de Zerbi and former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel joining fans’ favourite Mauricio Pochettino.
The Daily Mail say that Cooper is another with admirers in North London.
But, only a few months after signing a new long-term contract at the City Ground, Cooper’s focus is on beating Tottenham, rather than taking over them.
Could Steve Cooper replace Antonio Conte as Tottenham Hotspur manager?
“I am not so sure about any speculation. And I wouldn’t want to discuss it. I certainly won’t comment,” says the former England U17 boss, who’s Nottingham Forest side visit Tottenham this weekend.
“What I do know is that I have a huge amount of respect for him (Conte) and what he’s done in his career, and what he’s doing; From his club career to his international coaching as well.
“I have come up against him twice already this year. We are coming up against his team again on the weekend and, for sure, we have to be 100 per cent ready for it.”
Tottenham crashed out of the Champions League with a 0-0 home draw against AC Milan in midweek. Conte’s hugely-underwhelming tenure, then, looks destined to end without a single piece of silverware; that UCL exit coming just seven days after Spurs were sent packing from the FA Cup by second-tier Sheffield United.
‘He’s not going to Tottenham’
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan, meanwhile, believes Cooper would benefit from sticking around at an ambitious, upwardly-mobile, big-spending Nottingham Forest side.
“In terms of bigger football clubs, I don’t think he needs to leave Nottingham Forest any time soon. First of all, the guy who owns the club (Marinakis) is remarkably committed,” Jordan tells talkSPORT.
“Cooper is a decent manager. Whenever you have a decent manager doing a decent job, other clubs start to look at him.
“There are only certain clubs in the Premier League who are bigger than Nottingham Forest. Forest’s achievements are quite remarkable. I’ve been at that club and watched that fanbase. Nottingham Forest is a very, very good football club to stay at for a significant period of time.
“Southampton are going to get relegated. He’s not going to Chelsea, he’s not going to Tottenham.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
