Niko Kovac has surely already hinted at Tottenham appointment after fresh contact made
Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac has emerged as a strong candidate to be named as the next Tottenham manager ahead of next season.
The Lilywhites are currently being led by Igor Tudor until the end of the season, but they will then appoint a permanent manager with the view to launching a rebuild, ideally with the club still in the Premier League.
The North Londoners are currently casting their eyes over several potential candidates to take the reins for next term and beyond, with the board determined to ensure that they get the right man in place this time around.
Tottenham have already made contact with Dortmund over Kovac’s availability, and that has set the cogs in motion for them to potentially step up their interest and work towards an appointment.
Niko Kovac would surely accept Tottenham job after ‘positive light’ comment
Dortmund’s exit from the Champions League earlier this week has cast doubt on Kovac’s future, amid enquiries from Spurs and Manchester United.
The hierarchy of the Bundesliga giants are happy with the job that the Croatian is doing in charge of the team and have no intention of losing him, but that could be taken out of their hands this summer.
Spurs and United both view the 54-year-old as a target for their vacant positions, and Kovac would surely jump at the chance to take the reins in North London if his previous comments are anything to go by.
| Club | Games | W | D | L | Win % |
| Borussia Dortmund (2025-) | 61 | 36 | 13 | 12 | 59.02% |
| Wolfsburg (2022-24) | 66 | 23 | 17 | 26 | 34.85% |
| Monaco (2020-22) | 74 | 43 | 15 | 16 | 58.11% |
| Bayern Munich (2018-19) | 65 | 45 | 12 | 8 | 69.23% |
| Eintracht Frankfurt (2016-18) | 91 | 41 | 17 | 33 | 45.05% |
He described Spurs as bringing a “positive light” to European football during their run to the Champions League final under Mauricio Pochettino back in 2019, according to FourFourTwo, and that suggests that he would relish the challenge of trying to repeat that achievement.
Kovac also claimed in that same year that English teams’ spending gives them “an advantage” compared to clubs from other countries when it comes to European competitions, as per Sports Illustrated, and he would surely be keen to have that benefit on his side for a change.
It remains to be seen whether he will get the chance to take the Spurs job, but Kovac has already hinted that it would be something he would be open to.
Here’s why Spurs hold an edge over Man United for Kovac deal
Former Everton and Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness told Football Insider earlier this week that interim boss Michael Carrick is “nailed on” to get the United job on a full-time basis if he secures Champions League qualification.
That looks set to give Spurs a crucial edge in the race to seal a deal for Kovac, as a result of the current landscape at the top of the Premier League.
The English top-flight looks set to receive a fifth Champions League place for next term, due to the strong continental performances of its teams in 2025-26, and that will give the Red Devils an even greater chance.
They are currently three points clear of sixth-placed Liverpool at the moment, and are unbeaten in six games since Carrick took the reins.
It looks increasingly likely that the interim will achieve the goal set out for him at the end of the season, and if that proves to be the case, then United will not need to take their interest in Kovac any further.
For all the latest news on Kovac and Spurs’ other managerial targets, check out the dedicated coverage on Tottenham News.