Tottenham ‘identify No 1 target to replace under fire Mourinho’
Julian Nagelsmann is at the top of Tottenham's wish list should they opt to sack Jose Mourinho according to reports.
Pressure is mounting on the Portuguese manager following a poor run of form that has seen the north London side lose five of their last six.
Mourinho is currently favourite in the sack race, although it is understood he retains the support of club chief Daniel Levy.
Tottenham had looked well placed to mount a title challenge in December, but have since fallen away and may now miss out on the top four.
The next four games are crucial for Mourinho's future as they play Wolfsberger in the Europa League before taking on Burnley, Fulham and Crystal Palace in the league.
As a result the club have drawn up contingency plans and identified current RB Leipzig boss Nagelsmann as the ideal man to possibly take over, reports The Telegraph.
The 33-year-old German is hailed as one of Europe's top managers despite his tender age.
Last season he led Leipzig to the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time.
En route they knocked out Mourinho's Tottenham – winning both legs to ensure a 4-0 aggregate success.
Leipzig are well placed in the Bundesliga as they sit just two points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
Nagelsmann was approached by Chelsea last month before they appointed Thomas Tuchel.
The German was not prepared to walk out on a job midseason, which could yet be to Mourinho's advantage.
Nagelsmann is expected to leave Leipzig in the not too distant future with a host of top clubs eyeing his services.
Brendan Rodgers also has admirers as Tottenham due to his impressive work at Leicester over the past two years.
Getting the Northern Irishman out of Leicester may prove to be an expensive task however.
Despite the downturn in results Mourinho has defended himself and his staff while insisting there is no crisis.
"Mine and my coaching staff methods are second to nobody in the world," he said after defeat at West Ham on Sunday.
"I don't know what you mean by crisis.
"If crisis is frustration and sadness in the dressing room then I believe so and I think we all showed that.
"When a team fights the way the team did in trying to get a different result it's never a group crisis."
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