Tottenham Hotspur 'set to make formal approach for Arne Slot'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 22 May 2023

Tottenham 'set to make formal approach for Arne Slot'

Tottenham Hotspur are set to make a formal approach for Feyenoord head coach Arne Slot over the managerial vacancy in North London.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to make a formal approach for Feyenoord head coach Arne Slot, according to a report.

The Lilywhites have gone through three separate managers this term and are seeing out the campaign with Ryan Mason in charge following the exits of Antonio Conte and Cristian Stellini.

Conte left by mutual consent at the end of March after verbally attacking his players following a 3-3 draw with Southampton, where Spurs let a two-goal lead slip at St Mary's.

Stellini, who was Conte's assistant, stayed on to take the reins after impressing while on the touchline during his compatriot's various absences, but his tenure lasted just 29 days before he was sacked.

A humbling 6-1 loss at the hands of Newcastle United proved to be the final straw for Stellini, and Mason was subsequently placed in interim charge for the remainder of the season.

Ryan Mason in charge of Tottenham Hotspur on May 20, 2023 © Reuters

The former Spurs midfielder has confirmed his desire to take the job permanently, but with just one win from five games, he is not believed to be a serious candidate for Daniel Levy.

Slot and Luis Enrique are now rumoured to be Tottenham's top two targets, and according to The Athletic, the Lilywhites are preparing to make a formal approach for the Feyenoord boss.

Slot led the Rotterdam giants to their first Eredivisie title in six years this season, while also reaching the final of the Europa Conference League last year, where his side lost to Roma.

Feyenoord's players are said to be growing increasingly concerned about the prospect of losing their head coach to Tottenham, whose interest in the 44-year-old has recently been confirmed by former player Rafael van der Vaart.

"I do know Tottenham really wants him. They asked what I thought of him. You know what I think of him, he squeezed out the maximum, Feyenoord is so stable. Even today, after they found out and partied all week," Van der Vaart told NOS.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is pictured before the match on March 18, 2023 © Reuters

"Very green light. Tottenham is a club I have been in for two years and I have a good relationship with it. They just miss a good coach and a coach who plays the fun football Tottenham always stood for."

Slot is also believed to be ready to depart Feyenoord in order to move to the Premier League, but with his contract running until 2025, Feyenoord would be due approximately £6m in compensation.

The Dutchman briefly served as manager of AZ Alkmaar before taking over at Feyenoord at the beginning of the 2021-22 season, and he boasts a record of 65 wins, 20 draws and 15 defeats from a century of games in charge of the Eredivisie champions.

Slot refused to speculate when recently quizzed on a move to Tottenham, who are at risk of missing out on European football altogether next season following Saturday's 3-1 London derby defeat to Brentford.

The Lilywhites sit eighth in the table heading into their final-day showdown with Leeds United at Elland Road, one point adrift of Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League spot.