‘No talks’ with Conte or potential replacements as Tottenham look to ruin Man Utd transfer plans

Tottenham haven’t held any talks with Antonio Conte over his future or with any potential replacements, according to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein.

Spurs threw away their chance of winning any silverware this season in a seven-day period early this month in which they lost to Sheffield United in the FA Cup .

A loss to Wolves sandwiched in between those two matches had seen them lose their grip on fourth place too but , coupled with Liverpool’s loss at Bournemouth, means they are six points clear of the sixth-placed Reds.

Newcastle United’s 2-1 win against Wolves on Sunday has seen Eddie Howe’s side – who occupied a top-four spot for much of the season – move to within four points of Tottenham with a game in hand.

And Conte is again under pressure to deliver a top-four finish with many Spurs fans thinking they should’ve made more of their opportunity in the FA Cup.

The Italian’s contract is up at the end of the current season and there was that Tottenham have already decided that they don’t want to renew his deal.

Ornstein insists that the ‘uncertainty mounts regarding his future’ with ‘a good chance that he leaves after a difficult campaign’ and Tottenham have compiled a ‘shortlist of candidates’.

The Athletic journalist adds:

‘However, no potential successors have been talked to so far and the intention is for that to remain the case until the club reach a decision in conjunction with Conte on whether or not he will depart.

‘Despite both parties knowing the 53-year-old’s deal is coming to an end, various on and off-field factors mean the situation has yet to be brought to a head internally. As well as a packed fixture schedule, this season has been heavily disrupted for Conte by bereavements and illness.

‘But from early April it is expected that decisive conversations will be held between Tottenham and Conte to determine his position.

‘Should it be resolved that he is to leave, discussions with prospective successors can begin and Spurs will hope to run a smoother process than that which eventually led them to hire Conte in 2021.’

Tottenham striker Harry Kane is also coming to the end of his contract with the England captain inside the final 16 months of deal at the north London club.

There has been speculation over the last few months that Manchester United will attempt to buy Kane in the summer transfer window with a fee of around £100m mooted.

But Tottenham are ‘determined to secure an agreement to keep him for longer’ with Spurs ‘not even contemplating a sale’ despite interest from the Red Devils.