Brighton boss Graham Potter emerges as the front-runner to take over at Tottenham

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Graham Potter has emerged as Tottenham Hotspur’s top target should Antonio Conte leave at the end of the season.

The 46-year-old is now the front-runner should the Italian leave the club with a decision to make with Roberto Mancini and fans’ favourite Mauricio Pochettino seen as other options.

The Seagulls boss was considered last summer following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho, but the role eventually went to Nuno Espirito Santo, who has since been sacked and replace by Conte.

Roberto Mancini (left) and Mauricio Pochettino (right) are alternative options should Conte go

Daniel Levy was prepared to pay the £15m in compensation it would have taken to land Potter last summer, but he was keen to remain at Brighton, who are currently ninth in the Premier League table.

The size of that compensation figure is understood to have decreased with one year less remaining on his contract, but Spurs would still have to pay in excess of £10m to take Potter, according to the Telegraph.

Spurs have long admired the work Potter has accomplished at Brighton and his work has impressed managing director Fabio Paratici.

Spurs would have to pay in excess of £10m in compensation to bring Potter to north London

Potter could be tempted this time round with Brighton looking set to sell key players once again this summer – despite enjoying a terrific season.

Fans, however, would love to see the return of Pochettino who looks destined to leave PSG after struggling to win over the board and fans, even while winning Ligue 1 comfortably.

The board are said to be reserved about whether it would be a good move for both parties to bring the Argentine back to the club.

Another reported option is Roberto Mancini, but it would be hard to tempt him away from the Italian national team.

A move for any of those three is still dependent on the future of Conte with Spurs main choice being to keep the Italian in north London, but it seems he will only stay if he is guaranteed money to spend this summer.

A move for any those three is still dependent on the future of Antonio Conte at Spurs

Conte has previously made it clear that he will decide his future at the end of the season, when he holds talks with Levy and Paratici over the size of the club’s ambition.

The former Juventus boss is set to tell the pair he wants six to eight new players and has confirmed that Spurs will have to spend big in the transfer window to become competitive.

He told Daniel Levy that Tottenham must spend ‘a lot of money’ if they are to follow the successful model at Liverpool in his press-conference.

Questioned over if there were comparisons between the Merseyside giants when Klopp was hired in 2015 and present-day Spurs, Conte said: ‘I don’t know but if I was sure that type of situation could happen [here], I’d sign [a new contract]!’

Conte has insisted they must spend money to follow the successful model at Liverpool

‘But the time for Liverpool was easier than now,’ he added. 

‘When Liverpool started this work with Jurgen, they were a top team but not in a way they are now – consolidated with an important manager, always the same team, big investment, big money spent in the transfer market.

‘They had the right space to improve and reach this level. Now, in my opinion, it is more difficult because the space [for improvement] is not so big.

‘To reduce this gap, you need to spend a lot of money because you need to buy important players. You have to know this otherwise you cannot reduce this gap and hope always for a miracle.’