Tottenham in talks over Niko Kovac appointment after £9.6m blow
Tottenham have enquired about Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovac as they seek to appoint a permanent manager in the summer.
That is according to Bild, with the German publication stating that Tottenham have made contact with Dortmund about the Croatian’s availability.
The former Monaco boss has a contract with the German giants until 2027, but after their Champions League exit on Wednesday, speculation is mounting over his future.
The report adds that as a result of their play-off loss to Atalanta, with BVB losing 4-3 on aggregate after being 2-0 up after the first leg, Kovac’s side are set to miss out on around £9.6million in revenue.
That could have a knock-on effect on their ability to retain defender Nico Schlotterbeck, who has been linked with Liverpool. But other clubs have also reportedly turned their attention to Kovac, too.
Tottenham in competition with Premier League rivals for Niko Kovac
Bild claims that Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea have all shown interest in Kovac during the season and reached out to BVB.
Chelsea have since hired Liam Rosenior on a long-term deal, but the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium outfit and United are not in the same position.
Igor Tudor has been tasked with guiding Tottenham to Premier League safety for the rest of the season, while Michael Carrick is caretaker manager until the summer at Old Trafford.
| Niko Kovac’s top three managerial roles | Win percentage |
| Bayern Munich: July 2018-November 2019 | 69.23 |
| Monaco: July 2020-January 2022 | 56.76 |
| Borussia Dortmund: February 2025-present | 57.38 |
The report adds that Kovac can see himself moving to England, which should please the likes of Tottenham and other potential suitors.
Kovac has done a stellar job at Dortmund so far, guiding them to second in the Bundesliga behind runaway leaders Bayern Munich this season.
During his time at Bayern, he was in charge for their Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal triumphs in 2019 before departing later that year. BVB are understood to want to retain him but an exit is not beyond the realms of possibility.
What are Igor Tudor’s chances of getting the Tottenham job?
Tudor was appointed until the end of the season following the sacking of head coach Thomas Frank on 11 February, less than eight months into his tenure.
The former Juventus boss was given a brutal reality check of the severity of their situation with a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of bitter rivals Arsenal on Sunday.
The result means Spurs are just four points above the relegation zone, with the Europa League holders languishing in 16th in the Premier League.
Tudor has issued a rallying cry to his new Tottenham squad in their bid to stay up but he has admitted this will be his toughest relegation fight yet.
One factor that doesn’t help Tudor is how he has managed 12 teams in 11 years – with many of those leading to sacking or resignations after fallouts with the club’s board.
He is known as a firefighter, which is just what Tottenham need to get out of their current bind. But reports suggest that Tudor is not among the favourites to get the job permanently, even if he keeps them up.
Robbie Keane and Mauricio Pochettino are thought to be more serious contenders, although Tudor will be given a chance to stake his claim in the remaining months of the season. All of this will be irrelevant, though, if Tottenham go down.
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