Mainz 05 manager Bo Svensson is reportedly the latest head coach to emerge as a candidate for the Tottenham Hotspur job.
Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy continues to search high and low for a permanent successor to Antonio Conte following the Italian's acrimonious departure at the end of March.
The Cristian Stellini experiment ended in disaster for Spurs, as Conte's former number two was sacked as acting head coach after just four games and 29 days at the helm.
Former midfielder Ryan Mason had subsequently been placed in interim charge for the second time, having won four of his seven matches as head coach towards the end of the 2020-21 season after Jose Mourinho's sacking.
Mason has opened the door to taking the reins permanently, but the 31-year-old is not expected to be considered for a summer appointment as Levy whittles down his shortlist of candidates.
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While the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Arne Slot and Luis Enrique are seen as the primary candidates, ESPN claims that Mainz manager Svensson is also under consideration for the role.
The 43-year-old has been in charge of the Bundesliga outfit since January 2021, and his side are in with an unexpected shot of European qualification approaching the final weeks of the campaign.
Svensson has overseen 12 wins, nine draws and nine defeats from Mainz's 30 Bundesliga outings this season, leaving them eighth in the table and three points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the final continental spot.
The Dane masterminded a 3-1 win for his side over champions Bayern Munich last month, while he has also led Mainz to victories over Borussia Monchengladbach, Leverkusen and RB Leipzig since the turn of the year.
Svensson is contracted to Mainz until 2024 and boasts an overall record of 38 wins, 22 draws and 29 defeats from his 89 games in charge of the club, but he is not thought to be high up Levy's shortlist.
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Former Bayern head coach Nagelsmann is still believed to be Spurs' priority, but there are growing concerns over the cost of a deal to bring the 35-year-old to North London, given that he is still receiving his annual wage from Bayern.
As a result, the report adds that Feyenoord head coach Slot is now emerging as a serious option to take over, although the Dutch outfit would still be due compensation given that his deal expires in 2025.
Slot supposedly possesses a clause in his Feyenoord contract that would allow him to move to a Premier League club in 2024, and Spurs could be forced to rival West Ham United and Crystal Palace to lure the 44-year-old away from the Eredivisie.
Other outside candidates include Brendan Rodgers, Roberto De Zerbi and Graham Potter, but former RB Leipzig and Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick has encouraged Nagelsmann to consider taking the Tottenham job.
Mason has taken one point from two matches against Man United and Liverpool since replacing Stellini, leaving Spurs sixth in the Premier League table and nine points below the Red Devils - who have two games in hand - in the final Champions League position.
Ben Knapton
