Ruben Amorim has responded to rumours he could replace Antonio Conte as Tottenham boss amid uncertainty about the Italian’s future.
This month Spurs have been knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship side Sheffield United .
That has seen pressure grow on Conte’s management despite the Italian missing a few games as he recovered from having his gallbladder removed.
He is back in the dugout now with to boost their hopes of a top-four finish.
But it still seems likely that Conte – whose contract is up in the summer – and Spurs will part ways at the end of the season, even if they qualify for the top four, with a report yesterday claiming that Tottenham have decided not to offer him a renewal.
Reports in Portugal yesterday insisted that Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim was one of Tottenham’s top targets to replace Conte if the Spurs boss leaves.
However, when asked about reported interest from Tottenham, Amorim told reporters over the weekend: “I have a contract with Sporting for another three years and, in my head, it’s imagining being champion at least once more during these three years.”
Italian journalist Gabriele Marcotti has claimed that Conte “immediately regretted his decision to gamble” on taking the Tottenham job.
Marcotti told Il Corriere Dello Sport:”Conte’s Tottenham spell is heading towards its end. It’s the inevitable outcome of a relationship endured without much enthusiasm amid threats and misunderstandings since the first weeks.
“The Italian tactician has never seen entirely satisfied with his choice. Almost as if he had immediately regretted his decision to gamble on Tottenham. Perhaps, he had the illusion that owners would spend big money to bring the club to the top.”
Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino reckons Tottenham should follow Arsenal by making a “bold decision” on a new manager with Vincent Kompany doing well at Championship leaders Burnley.
“I think it’s time they were much bolder and more original in their thinking — they need to think like Arsenal,” Cascarino wrote in The Times. “When they appointed Mikel Arteta in December 2019, Arsenal made a bold decision but it was bold because Arteta was young and lacked experience.
“It wasn’t bold in terms of talent — he was a highly regarded young coach and tipped by many to succeed Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. Well now there’s another young, inexperienced manager who is being tipped to be a future City manager — Vincent Kompany.