Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy revels in his reputation as a tough negotiator. Suitors have been repeatedly warned off attempting to sign the club’s best players, and the few who have succeeded have been forced to pay top dollar.
However, the most important negotiations of Levy’s 17-year tenure at the club may be about to begin. Following Manchester United’s decision to sack Jose Mourinho, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has been installed as the bookmakers’ favourite for the role. The Argentinian has overseen the introduction into the Spurs’ team of several young players and moulded a squad full of dynamism and attacking potential. This was perfectly encapsulated in this afternoon’s 6-2 victory against Everton.
Many journalists believe Pochettino’s move to Manchester is almost inevitable, but the Spurs team that the 46-year-old has steadily built over recent years is far more balanced and much closer to challenging for titles than United’s currently is. This is proven by the fact that Tottenham are currently six points off pacesetters Liverpool, while Manchester United are 19 points adrift.
There remains the gnawing sense that the greatest trophies remain out of Tottenham’s reach though. While Manchester City and Liverpool improved their squads over the the summer, Tottenham did not and the two northern clubs look set to battle it out between them for domestic supremacy. In Europe, Tottenham managed to overturn a wretched start to the group stages to sneak into the last 16 of the Champions League.
Pochettino will want to remain at Tottenham, but will be understandably keen to gain assurances regarding the club’s ambitions and future transfer budgets. While he appreciates the club’s need to balance the books as they build the new stadium, he will also be acutely aware of the need to continue progressing and to avoid being left behind by the club’s free-spending rivals. On a personal note, he also knows that although he is currently in high demand, his star will dim if many more years go by without a trophy.
How Levy handles these budget negotiations will heavily influence Pochettino’s decision. If Levy refuses to promise his manager a transfer kitty to make Tottenham true title contenders, Pochettino will almost certainly be at Old Trafford next season and one would fear whether several of Tottenham’s most high-profile players may also then follow him out of the exit door.
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