Mauricio Pochettino: Tottenham return comes with big warning as pros and cons of replacing Conte are debated

Tottenham have been told that re-appointing Mauricio Pochettino as their manager could be the wrong move for the good of the club, as they ponder a successor to Antonio Conte.

The Italian coach is teetering on the brink at Spurs after a hard-hitting interview over the weekend. And with Conte criticising the club, its owners and their players following Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Southampton, there are many who feel his job is now untenable.

Chairman Daniel Levy, though, has refrained from any knee-jerk reactions. And instead, he is taking his time to decide what to do for the best. However, there is a school of thought that believes the axe is just hours away from falling on Conte.

Regardless of when he leaves, it seems highly unlikely that Conte will still be in charge come next season. His 20-month deal expires this summer and there seems unlikely to be a push from either side to extend that stay.

That leaves Tottenham to instead ponder life after the Italian and whether to get rid now or simply wait until his deal expires.

Either way, speculation over whom they will turn to next is growing by the day. Candidates have ranged from Luis Enrique, Thomas Tuchel, Robert De Zerbi and most recently a surprise candidate from the Bundesliga.

However, the most suggestion appears to focus around a return to the club for Pochettino. The Argentine led Spurs to the 2019 Champions League final before being unceremoniously dumped a few months later.

But he remains a hugely-popular figure around the club. And Levy knows his return would win him a few browny points among supporters.

READ MORE: Conte has given Kane ‘perfect excuse’ to leave Tottenham as Man Utd ponder blockbuster deal

Tottenham told to think twice about Pochettino return

However, not everyone is convinced that his return to the club would be a shrewd move.

And former Spurs defender Jason Cundy fears little will have changed at Tottenham for Pochettino to make a difference now.

He said on talkSPORT: “Everyone’s talking Poch, aren’t they!

“I’m really torn on that one with Poch because it’s going back. I can see both arguments but he’s going back to a similar club, isn’t he?”

However, former midfielder Jamie O’Hara suggested Spurs are a different club now and reckons a move would work out.

And with more money to spend on players, he believes the time is right to return.

“Well he’s going back to the same players, that’s for sure, they’re still there,” O’Hara said. “But I don’t think he’s going back to the same club.

“The club has grown in terms of the stadium, they’ve got an incredible stadium and there is a bit more money to spend. When they were building the stadium I don’t think they had loads of money to spend at the time.

“They have got money, they spent £150million. Do I agree with the players that have come in? Have they performed? No. But I think if Pochettino does come back, I think it might be different.”

Pochettino remains out of work having left PSG last summer. And given he could potentially take charge with immediate effect must be something of appeal to Tottenham.

Levy will this week ponder the removal of Conte as manager with timing now seemingly the main issue for the Spurs supremo.

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