Agbonlahor: ‘Seventh choice’ Tottenham manager target may reject approach after update
Any potential Tottenham manager will be put off by their public pursuit of Mauricio Pochettino, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England forward suggested even Brighton manager Graham Potter will not want to take the job as he will be “seventh choice”.
Football Insider understands Spurs are ready to return to their original shortlist of candidates as their hopes of luring Mauricio Pochettino have faded.
Tottenham now want their new boss to be “low maintenance” and require “cheap or zero compensation” to bring him to north London.
The club have been without a permanent manager since Jose Mourinho was sacked over six weeks ago – days before the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City.
Asked whether the protracted recruitment process may put off any potential target, Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “100 per cent.
“These managers, even Graham Potter, they don’t want to be fifth choice, sixth choice, seventh choice.
“That’s the problem with Spurs now, there are so many different managers being linked.
“If I’m Graham Potter I’m saying no. He’s got a really good project like Brighton where they play really good football. He’s got the faith from the board.
“I wouldn’t touch the Spurs job, to be honest. They need a lot of money spent on the team.”
Interim manager Ryan Mason guided the club to a seventh-place Premier League finish – their lowest finish since the 2008-09 campaign.
That secured qualification for the inaugural version of the Europa Conference League next season.
In other news, a £250million summer spending spree may keep Harry Kane at Tottenham amid Athletic reveal.