Alasdair Gold has revealed that Tottenham view Ajax manager Erik ten Hag as a similar option to Mauricio Pochettino.
If reports are to be believed, Mauricio Pochettino is now Tottenham’s number one target, with the North London club reportedly willing to pay significant compensation to Paris Saint-Germain to get their man (The Sun).
While the Argentine is said to be keen on a return to Spurs, some sources indicate that he is likely to stay put at PSG, with the Parisians determined to hold on to him.
The Ligue 1 giants made their intentions clear when they activated a clause to extend the 49-year-old’s stay by one more year.
Ten Hag also signed a contract extension with Ajax last month but the Dutchman continues to be on Tottenham’s radar.
Gold has now reiterated that the North Londoners view the Ajax boss as being a viable alternative if they cannot get Pochettino, due to the Dutchman’s style of play and his ability to improve young players.
When talking about the rumours linking Spurs with a move for Ten Hag, the journalist said on Periscope: “He’s a funny one, his situation.
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“He had that contract extension and it looked at the time that he was signing a new deal, but the more you looked at it, it seemed like Ajax taking an option up to extend his contract by his year just for compensation reasons. It looks like that’s the case.
“Everything I’m hearing about Ten Hag is that Spurs see him as very much similar to Pochettino in the sense he’s a players’ coach and can improve what they have got and bring them on. He’s excellent with younger players.
“The only thing I would say he doesn’t have and people in the Netherlands have said this to me is that he doesn’t have the charisma that Pochettino has.
“He’s very straight down the line and straight forward and cracks on with that he has to do. I wouldn’t discount him if Spurs can’t get Pochettino, he’s seen as another Pochettino.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I see Ten Hag’s lack of experience in a top league as the biggest problem rather than his lack of charisma. Plenty of coaches who have done well in the Eredivisie have struggled in the Premier League.
Ajax also have quite a unique structure and the jury is still out on whether Ten Hag would be able to replicate the same success out of the club’s system. I personally believe that the Ajax boss would be an ever riskier appointment than Graham Potter.
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