Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur

Premier League • England

Merson sends Levy urgent message over next Tottenham boss: ‘It always feels like this with them’

Paul Merson, former Arsenal star and Sky Sports pundit

Paul Merson, former Arsenal star and Sky Sports pundit

Tottenham have been told by Paul Merson why their managerial vacancy needs urgently addressing – with the pundit aiming a dig at chairman Daniel Levy for his all-too-frequent delaying tactics.

The north London side are in the process of searching for yet another new boss after calling time on Antonio Conte’s reign. The Italian’s exit was confirmed by mutual agreement last weekend, with his final act a cutting public assessment of all that is wrong about Spurs, their owners and its players.

He leaves Tottenham after just 16 months in charge, though just a few months before his deal was due to expire.

And while they were fourth in the table, the writing appeared on the wall when Spurs were dumped out of two competitions in the space of a week at the start of March.

That means they are now 15 years without a trophy, meaning their next appointment needs to be the right man.

A number of top names have been linked, including Julian Nagelsmann. However, trusted journalist Ben Jacobs has explained to TEAMtalk why a big snag might be emerging with the former Bayern Munich coach. And that could ultimately lead Levy to appointing the only “100% option” open to him.

In the wake of Conte’s exit, Levy acted by placing Conte’s No 2 Cristian Stellini in interim charge. And the Italian will be in the dug out when Tottenham’s season resumes with a trip to face Everton on Monday evening.

Spurs will look to secure a win that would go a long way in their quest for a top-four finish. It would also lay to waste any doubts that may have crept into the players’ minds following that 3-3 draw at Southampton.

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Merson tells Levy Tottenham need a new manager now

A win might also convince Levy that a new permanent appointment until the summer.

However, Merson is adamant that waiting until the end of the season could have a catastrophic affect on their chances of finishing fourth.

Moreover, he also feels getting the new boss in now will also enhance their prospects of a successful summer transfer window.

And in an apparent dig at Levy, who has come in for a hard time from supporters, Merson did not hold back.

“Tottenhan need to do this now,” Merson told Sky Sports Soccer Saturday. “It always feels like this with them ‘oh we’ll wait, we don’t want to pay anyone now’. But they’re going to have three months off in a couple of months time  – and they’ll still have to pay. They need a manager. Just go out and get one now.”

Asked who they should go for, Merson was non-commital. However, he insists there are plenty of options open to them and delaying a decision just feels like Levy delaying things for no apparent reason.

“You’ve got [Mauricio] Pochettino there, you’ve got the [former] Bayern Munich manager there [Julian Nagelsmann]. You’ve got Vincent Kompany, you’ve got [Roberto] De Zerbi, you’ve got [Brendan] Rodgers…

“Instead, though, they’ll probably go and try and get someone in July. And he’ll go ‘I need him, him and him’, but then Tottenham will say ‘oh, let’s just wait until January’. It’s all about the tomorrow with Spurs – they need someone in now.”

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