Sources: Tottenham set sights on Leeds boss Bielsa and Champions League winner as talks lined up
Tottenham are weighing up moves for Rafael Benitez and Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa amid a shift in their new manager hunt, Football Insider understands.
Proven Premier League calibre and experience of managing a top-level club are emerging as desirable attributes for Spurs as they narrow down their shortlist of candidates and prepare for interviews in the coming days.
The Tottenham board have missed out on many of those on their initial long list including Julian Nagelsmaan and have given up hope of luring Brendan Rodgers from Leicester City.
A Spurs source has told Football Insider the club have suffered complications in luring well-established Premier League managers.
Bielsa falls into that category although he has only signed one-year contracts since taking over at Leeds in 2018 and his current deal is close to expiring.
The Argentine, 65, has publicly stated his enthusiasm for staying on at Elland Road and has revealed the immense value he places on the club, the fans and the job he already has.
Nevertheless, that won’t stop Tottenham sounding him out at a time when his hugely impressive debut Premier League campaign could end in a top-10 finish.
Benitez, 61, would be easier to entice as he has not been attached to a club since quitting Chinese outfit Dalian Professional in January after 18 months.
The Spaniard, whose main family home is in England, is said to be keen on the Tottenham job as well as a return to the Premier League.
As a Champions League and Europa League winner who also has two La Liga titles and the Uefa Cup on his CV, Benitez is also highly decorated.
He would provide more security to the Londoners and their supporters than younger candidates such as Fulham boss Scott Parker, 40, and 47-year-old Belgium manager Roberto Martinez.
Parker is set to be interviewed, while Football Insider revealed on Monday that Martinez is making a “huge play” for the vacant post behind the scenes and is willing to quit Belgium after this summer’s European Championships.
Martinez has a contract with the national team that runs until next year’s World Cup but is keen to return to club management and is said to be extremely enthusiastic about the Londoners.
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