Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Roger Schmidt and Benfica are now pushing to keep hold of their unbeaten manager.
You would think this is hardly the time for Tottenham to be linked with managers.
Antonio Conte is in place and Tottenham won’t be sacking him any time soon.
Yet there always seems to be rumours about Conte leaving Tottenham, angled as if he is going to spit his dummy out and quit at any given moment.
We can’t see that happening any time soon but it hasn’t stopped links to other managers.
SportItalia’s Rudy Galetti reported last month that Tottenham already have Benfica boss Roger Schmidt in mind if Conte leaves any time soon.
The German coach only became Benfica boss over the summer as he left PSV Eindhoven, but he is making an enormous impact.
Benfica fighting to keep Tottenham-linked Roger Schmidt
Portuguese newspaper Record report that Benfica are now trying to convince Schmidt to sign a new deal.
Benfica president Rui Costa has allegedly spoken to Schmidt already in an attempt to tee up a contract extension at the Estadio da Luz.
Benfica are so desperate – and maybe Tottenham are so interested – because Schmidt has been working wonders at Benfica.
Schmidt has yet to even lose a game as Benfica boss, winning 23 and drawing four of his 27 games in charge.
55-year-old Schmidt has taken Benfica into the last 16 of the Champions League and his side have racked up 37 goals in 13 league games.
Benfica look to be title favourites this season and they have already opened up an eight-point gap at the top.
Benfica clearly believe that Schmidt is the man for the future and these Tottenham rumours may have just accelerated their plans to keep him – even if Conte looks pretty settled at the moment.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
