Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham return could be put in motion under one condition
Thomas Frank’s departure has left Tottenham back on the hunt for a new manager.
Tottenham are at risk of relegation from the Premier League, but it’s an all-too-familiar feeling, having finished 17th under Ange Postecoglou last season.
This campaign’s failures have been pointed at Frank, who was relieved of his duties as Tottenham manager on Wednesday morning, off the back of another home defeat.
Postecoglou has been mooted for a return to North London, though that is unlikely, but a move back to Spurs for Pochettino may not be ruled out quite yet.
What has been said about Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs return?
Pochettino was earmarked for a return to Tottenham prior to Frank getting the job, though that quite evidently never came to fruition.
And now again, the same rumours are flying.
Back in January, it was reported by Ben Jacobs that Pochettino would be open to returning to North London, having found plenty of success there in his previous spell.
However, for Tottenham, it feels unlikely that it would happen ahead of the final 12 games of the season, especially considering his position with the USMNT.
Pochettino will not want to give up the chance of managing at the World Cup in the summer, and if he were to take the Tottenham job now, that wouldn’t happen.
There is every chance that he would make the move in the summer, but that would hinge on Spurs hiring someone between now and the end of the season, and in that regard, there’s a clear name to consider, not that it would spark much optimism.
Ryan Mason could take Tottenham job until May
Ryan Mason knows Tottenham inside out, having spent time there as a player, but more recently as a coach prior to his failed spell at West Brom.
In fact, Mason has already been linked with the Tottenham job when Frank sack rumours were starting to emerge halfway through the eight-game winless run that saw him dismissed.
If it were to happen, it’s highly unlikely to satisfy the supporters who have grown frustrated with the lack of direction from their club, but it would be a perhaps sensible stop-gap appointment to keep Spurs in the Premier League.
That is the one and only aim for the remainder of the campaign, and with 12 games remaining, time is running out.