Tottenham’s top choice emerges as replacement process underway | Football | Sport
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly eyeing up former Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman as their new sporting director. The North London club has been on the hunt for a new head honcho since Fabio Paratici’s departure in January. BBC Sport suggests that Freedman is a key candidate in their organisational reshuffle, despite reservations about interim head coach Igor Tudor.
A 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace on Thursday plunged Spurs into a relegation scrap after their city rivals rallied from behind to hand the Croatian his third consecutive defeat. Dominic Solanke had initially put Spurs ahead, but Mickey van de Ven’s dismissal proved pivotal as Palace scored three late first-half goals to deepen the gloom. Freedman is recognised as the driving force behind the prosperous spell at Selhurst Park, which saw Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Adam Wharton relocate to south London.
However, it has been claimed that he’s not the only contender, with Paul Winstanley and Tiago Pinto also on the shortlist. Spurs currently hover just one point above the drop zone, facing the prospect of their first relegation since 1977. In contrast, West Ham United have experienced a resurgence under Nuno Espirito Santo, with Crysencio Summerville’s decisive goal in their 1-0 victory over Fulham nudging them closer to safety.
Elliot Anderson secured a vital point for Nottingham Forest, keeping them just outside the relegation zone. Both the Nottinghamshire team and the Hammers are hot on Spurs’ heels as they look upwards, whilst Tudor’s squad are anxiously looking over their shoulder following an 11-match winless streak.
The Telegraph has suggested that Roberto De Zerbi could potentially take over as manager at the season’s end. Speculation suggests that talks have taken place about bringing in the Italian if Spurs manage to stave off relegation. However, their immediate concern is Premier League survival, with a challenging run ahead, beginning with a visit to Liverpool – the one match Van de Ven will be suspended for.
Despite the tough run, the former Juventus head coach claims his confidence has grown after their performance against Palace – even though fans were heading for the exits in the first half. He said: “I understand the fans, they wanted more.
“We also wanted more. The red card changed everything. It might sound strange, I believe more after this game than I believed before. I saw something.
“I need to choose the right guys because the boat is going in the direction that I need to go, and who is in the boat can stay, otherwise, [they] can leave the boat. When the other players come back, I’m sure we’ll have a good team and come back. It’s not easy to accept the moment we are in now.”
