Inter Milan's Conte is front runner for Spurs manager job

Antonio Conte [EPA/YONHAP]

Former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte has emerged as the front runner to take over as Tottenham Hotspur's new manager.

According to multiple reports, Spurs are currently in the final stages of discussions with Conte, who has emerged as the new favorite candidate despite earlier rumors that the club was looking to bring back former manager Mauricio Pochettino.

According to the BBC, Spurs reached out to Pochettino, but his current club PSG would not let him leave.

Conte has had a hugely successful career both as a player and as a manager. He played his entire career for Italian Serie A club Juventus, which he captained to UEFA Champions League victory and five Serie A wins.

Conte has managed Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan, leading all three clubs to league wins and taking Juventus and Chelsea to cup victories as well. He also managed the Italian national team from 2014-16.

Tottenham has been without a manager since dismissing Mourinho in April. The club finished the season with Ryan Mason temporarily at the helm, but now need to sign a new manager as quickly as possible.

Spurs finished the 2020-21 Premier League season in a disappointing seventh place, qualifying for the new third-tier Europa Conference League.

The club potentially faces a crisis in the offseason, as star player Harry Kane has made it clear that he is looking to leave Spurs and move to a team that has a better chance of bringing home some silverware. Kane's possible departure also raises questions over other top players including Son Heung-min and Gareth Bale, who likely share the same concerns about Tottenham's prospects.

If he wants to keep his team together, Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy will need to bring in a manager that the players believe can lead them to some success in the 2021-22 season.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]