9pm Tottenham news LIVE: Southgate could replace Pochettino, Maddison ‘perfect’ Eriksen replacement, Vertonghen won’t commit to Spurs – The Sun
TOTTENHAM and Mauricio Pochettino face a massive week of European and domestic football.
First up is a home match against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, followed by a trip to Brighton in the Premier League.
Get all the latest Spurs news, updates and gossip here…
BAYERN MUNICH boss Niko Kovac says Tottenham are a shining example of how giving a manager time can lift a club into the European elite.
As Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino faces questions over their form and his own future, Kovac warmed up for Bayern's group visit to the Champions League finalists by praising the Argentinian.
Kovac said: “You can see what it means when you have a good coach, a good manager.
“In my opinion, Tottenham is a very positive light in European football.
“They are now able to compete with the big teams, even though it didn’t look like that six or seven years ago.
“They have continuity, he was given time and he has done a great job and that is an example for others. All the players are world class.”
TOTTENHAM have made Gareth Southgate their top managerial target should Mauricio Pochettino leave the club, it has been claimed.
Spurs have had a rocky start to the season with rumours of unrest in the camp and the North Londoners are said to view the Three Lions boss as the ideal replacement should the Argentine leave.
And Spurs chiefs were even ready to make a move for Southgate, 49, at the end of last season amid doubts over Poch's future, according to the Daily Express.
Tottenham's current boss admitted he could leave if the club had won last season's Champions League final, claiming he might have “nothing left to achieve”.
But of course Spurs came a cropper and lost 2-0 at the hands of Liverpool in Madrid.
Pochettino continued to be linked with Real Madrid and Manchester United over the summer after last season's success.
Meanwhile Matt Le Tissier believes that James Maddison would make the 'perfect' Christian Eriksen replacement at Tottenham.
The 27-year-old is almost certain to leave Spurs in the next 12 months and Le Tissier believes that Maddison could help retain the Dane's creativity in the Tottenham side.
The Southampton legend told Sky Sports: “He [Maddison] is a player that would be on the radar of a team like Spurs, especially if they were to lose Christian Eriksen.
“You look at James Maddison and he would be a pretty ideal replacement. I think this boy has got everything in his locker.
“He has been quite unfortunate that he has not already been capped by England. I really do think that his performances at Leicester warranted him making his debut before he actually got in the squad.”
Maddison scored a late winner against Spurs at the King Power Stadium last weekend.
And Jan Vertonghen has refused to commit to Tottenham, with his contract running out in the summer.
He said: “I'd prefer not to go into that, but there is always movement there, of course.
“It's my eighth season and I'm feeling great.
“I'm very aware of my age. I feel fairly young.
“It doesn't distract me. I want to play as many games as possible. I'm very ambitious and I feel I've got a few good years left at the top level.”
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