Antonio Conte returns to London today amid uncertainty over his Tottenham future
Antonio Conte returns to London TODAY after a spell in Italy as the boss under fire prepares to return to the bench for his Champions League clash with Milan… amid growing expectations that he WILL LEAVE the club at the end it’s from the season.
- Antonio Conte returns to London on Sunday after recovering from an operation
- It comes after costly defeats this week against Sheffield United and Wolves
- The expectation grows that the Italian will leave at the end of the season
Antonio Conte returns to London today amid growing expectations that he will leave Tottenham before next season.
The Spurs head coach returned to Italy late last month to continue recovering from surgery to remove his gallbladder, but will return to England on Sunday ahead of Wednesday’s decisive Champions League round of 16 clash against AC Milan, where they will seek to reverse a 1-0 deficit in the first leg.
Following last week’s shock FA Cup knockout by Sheffield United, the competition is now the club’s only hope of ending their 15-year wait for a trophy.
Conte returns to work after two successive defeats; His team, led by assistant Cristian Stellini, lost 1-0 at Wolves on Saturday.
He also arrives with his long-term role as club boss under significant uncertainty.
Antonio Conte returns to London on Sunday amid uncertainty over his future at Tottenham
His return comes after losses to Sheffield United in the FA Cup and Wolves.
The former Chelsea manager’s contract expires at the end of the season, but there has been little progress on a potential extension.
Tottenham have the option to extend Conte’s existing contract by 12 months, but sources have indicated there is not much appetite for activating that clause at the moment.
In fact, there is a feeling behind the scenes at Spurs that it is better for all parties to go their separate ways before next season.
Conte has suffered some disturbing personal trauma in recent months.
Despite his health problems, the former Italy international was deeply affected by the deaths of his fitness trainer Gian Piero Ventrone and his former teammates Sinisa Mihajlovic and Gianluca Vialli.
There have also been suggestions that the 53-year-old is keen to return to Italy to get closer to his loved ones.
Mauricio Pochettino would be a candidate to return to Tottenham if Conte leaves.
There is a suggestion that Conte wants to return to Italy so he can get closer to his loved ones.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy could be forced to look for a new manager this summer
But while chairman Daniel Levy still maintains a close relationship with the Argentine, it will be necessary to convince others at Tottenham that any Pochettino return is a good idea.
Sportsmail understands that Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has admirers, while Eintracht Frankfurt boss Olivier Glasner may also emerge as an option.
With a place in the Champions League quarter-finals and a top-four position yet to be played out, a summer split seems likely.
However, it remains to be seen how chairman Daniel Levy will react if Tottenham’s season falters, although as it stands, there are no immediate plans to make a decision on Conte’s future before the season ends.