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MOUR TO COME
Jose Mourinho in advanced talks with Tottenham over replacing Mauricio Pochettino
JOSE MOURINHO will tomorrow continue talks to become the new manager of Tottenham.
Spurs approached the former Manchester United manager early this evening evening to see if he was willing to succeed Mauricio Pochettino in charge.
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The London club sacked Pochettino just five months after he led them in the Champions League final with the club 14th in the Premier League.
And they immediately turned to Mourinho, 56, who spent the remainder of the night in talks with Spurs.
SunSport understands both sides are confident they can reach a deal which would see him take charge before Saturday's crunch clash with West Ham.
Jose Mourinho and Max Allegri want the job after Spurs chairman Daniel Levy ended Poch’s 5½-year reign.
And SunSport can reveal:
- Many Spurs players have lost respect for the Argentine for refusing to discuss team selection with them and his increasing absence from training.
- The board believe Poch, 47, engineered his own sacking.
- Levy hopes Poch’s exit will persuade contract rebels to stay
Mourinho has been out of work since leaving Manchester United 11 months ago - and has snubbed a series of offers waiting for the right opportunity he feels will keep him competing at the top of the game.
The Tottenham job is potentially appealing but Spurs may need to provide assurances Pochettino's departure would not lead to a break up of the squad in place.
It was revealed last month that Mourinho is keen to set history by becoming the first manager to lead three different clubs to the league title or major European trophies.
Both Spurs and Arsenal have the pedigree and potential to give him that opportunity, and it helps that he would not have to move away from London which has become his home over the past five years.
As well as Pochettino, coaches Jesus Perez, Miguel D’Agostino and Antoni Jimenez have also been relieved of their duties.
Chairman Daniel Levy issued a club statement, where he said: "We were extremely reluctant to make this change and it is not a decision the Board has taken lightly, nor in haste.
“Regrettably domestic results at the end of last season and beginning of this season have been extremely disappointing.
“It falls to the Board to make the difficult decisions - this one made more so given the many memorable moments we have had with Mauricio and his coaching staff - but we do so in the Club's best interests.
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“Mauricio and his coaching staff will always be part of our history. I have the utmost admiration for the manner in which he dealt with the difficult times away from a home ground whilst we built the new stadium and for the warmth and positivity he brought to us.
"I should like to thank him and his coaching staff for all they have contributed. They will always be welcome here.
“We have a talented squad. We need to re-energise and look to deliver a positive season for our supporters.”
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Mauricio Pochettino jokes: If Levy sacked me, I could never manage Arsenal!
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