Ex-manager suggests Tottenham favourite set for Nuno axe after new deal agreed
Alex McLeish has suggested Nuno Espirito Santo could axe fan favourite Japhet Tanganga and change tactics after Tottenham signed Emerson Royal.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Scotland boss suggested the Portuguese manager may be looking to emulate his Wolves days in north London.
Spurs confirmed the capture of Emerson from Barcelona on deadline day (31st August).
He joins Japhet Tanganga and Matt Doherty as the right-back options at Tottenham.
Tanganga has been Nuno’s first-choice so far in the league, with the Portuguese boss favouring a 4-3-3 formation.
However, McLeish suggested Emerson’s arrival could put the fan favourite under threat as the manager considers a tactical change.
“It’s a question of kids coming in and adjusting to the Premier League,” McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge.
“What Nuno has done previously with Wolves is recruit some fantastic foreign players, Portuguese players. As you know, Jorge Mendes was behind a lot of those.
“Portuguese players are normally excellent in terms of the quality with the football at their feet. Nuno must be trying to possibly emulate the Wolves thing a wee bit.
“By bringing in Brazilians and Portuguese guys, he can speak the language. For Doherty and Tanganga, the wheels keep turning, and they could miss out.
“If you’ve got a new man coming in, he has to hit the ground running and be ready for the Premier League.
“Maybe he’s trying to implement a new system. Five in the midfield, like he did very positively at Wolves. That could be his ultimate strategy and plan.”
Doherty started both of Spurs’ Europa Conference League qualifiers against Pacos de Ferreira last month.
However, he has played just seven minutes in the league under Nuno so far.
In other news, Tottenham warned of “toxic” training after source drops Tanguy Ndombele reveal.