Sources: Tottenham swoop for Julian Nagelsmann amid Conte sack update and pay-off details
Tottenham will make contact with Julian Nagelsmann in a sensational twist to their next manager pursuit, sources have told Football Insider.
It has been widely reported that the German, 35, has been sacked by Bayern Munich and Thomas Tuchel will replace him even though the news has yet to be confirmed by the club.
That has opened the door for Spurs to move for Nagelsmann in a surprise turnaround that adds a new layer of intrigue to their plans to replace Antonio Conte.
The London club’s hierarchy have been locked in talks with Conte’s camp this week over the terms of his departure and the pay-off he will receive for the three months remaining on his contract.
As Football Insider revealed on Monday, Tottenham have decided to end the Italian’s reign in the wake of his incendiary rant last Saturday after the 3-3 draw against Southampton.
Conte has returned to his homeland in Italy while his assistant Christian Stellini and first-team coach Ryan Mason have overseen training.
Tottenham are discussing with Conte a mutual severance in which he receives a significant portion of the £4million he is due to earn for the remainder of his contract.
It would mean the terms of the Italian’s departure would not be classified by the club as a sacking, even though his position is no longer seen as tenable following his criticism of the Spurs players he condemned as “selfish”.
Tottenham have been assessing managerial options for the remainder of the season.
These include appointing Mason as an interim manager – as first revealed by Football Insider last Sunday – or trying to get one of their long-term targets ahead of the summer.
But the sudden availability of Nagelsmann is viewed by Spurs as a game-changer in their managerial pursuit.
He was targeted by the club in the past, including when Jose Mourinho was sacked in 2021, just before he was appointed by Bayern.
Nagelsmann has lost his job at German giants after a poor run of form which culminated in a 2-1 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen last Sunday, which cost Bayern top spot in the Bundesliga going into the international break.
In other news, Kieran Maguire casts doubts on ‘gigantic’ Tottenham deal – ‘it could backfire’