Real Madrid to rival Tottenham Hotspur for Mauricio Pochettino?

Tottenham Hotspur could reportedly face competition from Real Madrid to re-hire Mauricio Pochettino this summer.

The Lilywhites are now expected to give Antonio Conte his marching orders during the international break in the wake of his relentless attack on his "selfish" players.

Spurs let a two-goal lead slip in a 3-3 draw with the Premier League's basement side Southampton last weekend, leaving them just two points clear in fourth place, having played two games more than Newcastle United.

Conte pulled no punches at the full-time whistle and also appeared to take aim at the owners, questioning Tottenham's lack of silverware under Daniel Levy and Joe Lewis.

The Italian has supposedly told the board that his comments were solely aimed at the players, some of whom would allegedly be happy to see him sacked before domestic football resumes.

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Ryan Mason will likely take charge until the end of the season if Conte leaves alongside assistant Cristian Stellini, and the former Chelsea boss will see his contract expire in the summer if he avoids the sack anyway.

Despite his doubts, a reunion with Pochettino is understood to be under consideration for Levy, who sacked the Argentine in 2019 only a few months after he guided Spurs to the Champions League final.

However, The Times reports that Real Madrid could also try to lure Pochettino back into management if Carlo Ancelotti steps down from his position in the near future.

The report claims that Blancos president Florentino Perez has been keen on the idea of hiring Pochettino for a number of years, and he is a strong contender on Real's managerial shortlist.

Ancelotti's current contract at the Santiago Bernabeu does not expire until the end of next season, but the 63-year-old has expressed a desire to stay in the hotseat for as long as possible.

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"My evaluation is something that the club has to do and not me. I have already said that I would like to stay for the rest of my life but I know that this is impossible," Ancelotti told the press before last weekend's defeat to Barcelona in El Clasico.

"Whatever happens, the club will decide at the end of the season," the Italian told reporters. My thought is to continue and what the club decides will be what counts. If they want me, I will enjoy it. If not, I will enjoy it for as long as I have left. I will be grateful for life."

After being relieved of his duties in North London, Pochettino replaced Thomas Tuchel as Paris Saint-Germain manager in 2021, winning the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions in Paris.

The 51-year-old is believed to have told Tottenham that he would be open to a return, having already rebuffed an approach from Chelsea to succeed Graham Potter if the Englishman is let go.

Pochettino previously won 160, drew 60 and lost 73 of his 293 games in charge of Tottenham between 2014 and 2019, but he failed to end Spurs' trophyless streak, which stretches back to the 2007-08 EFL Cup.