Tottenham Hotspur is interested in Paulo Fonseca again, two years after the Portuguese manager almost took charge of the North London club.

But! Football Club revealed yesterday that Spurs are one of the sides interested in the 50-year-old, who is currently at the helm at Lille in France.

If you’re a Spurs fan and Fonseca‘s name rings a bell, it’s because he was on the verge of becoming Jose Mourinho’s successor at Tottenham in 2021.

Tottenham wants Paulo Fonseca again, two years after rejecting him

Paulo Fonseca and Tottenham’s story is a strange one.

Back in 2021, after Jose Mourinho was sacked and Ryan Mason led the club until the end of the season, Tottenham was linked with numerous managers to take charge of the club.

Fonseca was one of them, and reports revealed back then that almost everything was agreed for him to become the next Spurs manager. There was even an agreement between him and Chairman Daniel Levy.

However, Fabio Paratici came in, blocked that move and Tottenham then went for Nuno Espirito Santo instead.

Speaking of what happened, Fonseca told RMC Sport in February this year: “After my departure from Roma, everything was closed (with Tottenham), everything was almost finalized.

“But there was the arrival of a new general manager (Fabio Paratici) who opted for another coach (Nuno Espirito Santo).

“It was done at the last moment but that’s football. It’s a matter of choice.”

TBR View:

If Fonseca is right and Paratici was the only one blocking his move to Tottenham, that is no longer an issue now.

The Italian had to quit his role as Spurs’ sporting director after his appeal to overturn his ban was rejected. He is no longer at Tottenham, and it’s Daniel Levy who’s calling the shots at the moment.

If Levy liked Fonseca then and he doesn’t get his top targets now, it won’t be a surprise at all to see the Spurs chairman go after the 50-year-old again this summer.

Fonseca will enter the final year of his Lille contract this summer.

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Spurs: Alonso “first candidate” for Tottenham job

The former Liverpool star is now in the frame.

Big-name figure and Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is reportedly the top contender to replace Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur.

What’s the latest Spurs manager news?

In the last few days, some reports have emerged linking many coaches to the post, with the likes of Brendan Rodgers, Graham Potter, and Ruben Amorim in the frame alongside Spurs’ usual suspects.

The Lilywhites are highly unlikely to seal a top-four Premier League finish as things stand, with rivals Man United currently nine points clear of Ryan Mason’s side with two games in hand.

A Europa League spot looks likely to be the main goal and chairman Daniel Levy will be prioritizing the hire of a new permanent manager for next season.

It’s been a whirlwind time at Spurs recently, with former interim boss Cristian Stellini following Conte out the door and ex-managing director Fabio Paratici resigning from his post after losing his 30-month ban appeal.

To get the Tottenham fan base back on side, Levy getting this next managerial appointment spot on is absolutely imperative, with news coming to light on a new top contender recently.

Indeed, according to Dutch journalist Marcel van der Kraan, writing for De Telegraaf, Feyenoord boss Arne Slot is in the ‘waiting room’ but certainly isn’t Tottenham’s favored candidate to take the reins.

The 44-year-old has been heavily linked alongside former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann in the last few weeks, yet it is believed another in-work manager is actually above him in the pecking order.

As per van der Kraan’s information, Leverkusen’s Alonso is now the ‘first candidate’ and Slot cannot match his credentials.

Indeed, the former has guided Leverkusen to the Europa League semi-finals and possesses great experience at the very top level as a professional player – having turned out for the likes of Real Madrid and Liverpool.

Should the Spurs hire Alonso?

The 41-year-old could be considered among Europe’s most promising young coaches alongside the likes of Vincent Kompany (Burnley) and Nagelsmann.

The Spaniard has been revered by sections of the media for transforming his club, which was once in ‘disarray’ before his arrival (The Daily Mail) – something which may have attracted attention from Spurs.

Alonso favors the 3-4-3 formation, a similar set-up to Conte and one which some Tottenham players may be used to during their time under the Italian.

You can see why Spurs are now considering him for the role, yet we believe Nagelsmann should still be the top target considering both his elite status as a title-winner and tactical innovator.