Sources: Surprise new Tottenham manager contender - Harry Kane is a big fan
Ryan Mason will shoot up the pecking order of Tottenham managerial candidates if he oversees an improvement in the final weeks of the season, sources have told Football Insider.
The interim boss, 31, has not been mentioned seriously as a potential permanent boss as Spurs plan to make a permanent appointment this summer.
But well-placed Spurs sources are not ruling him out of the running if he makes a strong impression in the last month of the season.
Critically, the former midfielder is a close friend of Harry Kane - which could make a shock appointment a real possibility.
It is believed that Tottenham chiefs are very mindful of the need to keep Kane happy amid huge doubts over his future.
Football Insider revealed on Friday (28 April) that the club's all-time record scorer will have a big say in the appointment process of the next Spurs manager.
The search for a new boss will form a key plank of Kane's contract talks in the coming months - with his current deal set to expire in June 2024.
Sources told this site on Wednesday (26 April) that Man United are hopeful they can sign the England captain for £85million plus add-ons this summer.
Mason, who is into his second spell in charge of Tottenham, has served in several behind-the-scenes roles for the Lilywhites since retiring from playing in 2019.
His side recovered from a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 against Man United on Thursday (27 April).
Tottenham won four of seven games during Mason's last temporary spell at the helm in the 2020-21 season following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.
He oversaw a narrow 1-0 loss in the League Cup final against Man City.
Spurs sit six points adrift of a top-four berth with five games left to play this season.
Mason's next challenge is an away clash with fellow European challengers Liverpool on Sunday (30 April).