Tottenham’s plans to discuss their managerial vacancy with Erik ten Hag have ended after the Dutchman signed a contract extension at Ajax until 2023. The 51-year-old was high on Spurs’ shortlist of candidates to replace José Mourinho but he has dealt a further blow to Daniel Levy’s quest to install a new manager for next season.
Spurs had hoped to hold talks with Ten Hag next week but he was pictured on Ajax’s website holding champagne with the key executives Edwin van der Sar and Marc Overmars on Friday to announce his new deal.
With the original targets Julian Nagelsmann, who is leaving RB Leipzig for Bayern Munich, and Leicester’s Brendan Rodgers already out of Tottenham’s reach, it is understood Brighton’s Graham Potter and Fulham’s Scott Parker are among other managers under consideration. Ralf Rangnick, who influenced Nagelsmann and is out of work, is also on the shortlist.
Ten Hag said: “I know who I am working with, I know what the ideas are, I know what goals we have. I’m happy here. I’m busy with where I am at, that’s at Ajax, that’s where my head and heart are at.”
Tottenham’s slim chances of securing European football for next season rest on the shoulders of the 29-year-old interim manager Ryan Mason, who insisted his side were focused on their meeting with Sheffield United on Sunday and their four other remaining fixtures.
“There’s going to be speculation because of the situation we’re in,” he said. “But I don’t want to spend too much energy talking about other people because at this moment in time I’m the one who is leading the team. Everyone has to be pulling in the same direction for the next five games and not thinking about who the new manager is going to be.”
Asked whether Tottenham were still an attractive post for the best managers, he said: “There’s always going to be people who will be interested. We have the best stadium in the world and also we have the best training complex in the world in my opinion. It’s a fantastic group of players and a fantastic fanbase so of course it’s going to be appealing for anyone.”