It seems Tottenham, Everton and Crystal Palace aren’t quite ready to get off the Premier League managerial merry-go-round just yet.
With just two weeks until pre-season training begins, all three clubs remain without a head coach.
Tottenham’s search has proved the most complicated. Daniel Levy missed out on Julian Nagelsmann while his other first-choice target, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers, pledged his commitment to the Foxes.
Tottenham’s search for a new manager has proved the most complicated of all three clubs with Daniel Levy unable to land any of his targets
Nuno Espirito Santo has held talks with Palace and Everton but discussions broke down with both clubs. He could compelte the hat-trick with Spurs now said to be considering him.
All three sides will want to have a manager in place for the start of pre-season so they can cast their eye over the reinforcements that may be needed in certain positions before the end of the summer transfer window.
But the search is proving difficult for Levy, Farhad Moshiri and Steve Parish – and time is not on their side. Sportsmail takes a look at why the process has been such a nightmare for each team and which managers are still in the running for the vacant roles.
Brendan Rodgers (left) and Julian Nagelsmann were both wanted by Tottenham
TOTTENHAM
It’s been one disaster after another for Tottenham since the 2020-21 season came to an end.
Seven coaches have been approached for the manager’s job but the club are still without a boss.
Nagelsmann and Rodgers were the two men Levy wanted but he was unable to land either with the German taking the Bayern Munich job while Rodgers insisted he had no interest in leaving Leicester.
Antonio Conte walked away from talks because he was not convinced by Spurs’ project
Levy then turned his attention to Ajax boss Erik ten Hag and Antonio Conte, who left Inter Milan after guiding them to their first Serie A title in 10 years.
Ten Hag signed a new contract with the Dutch side while Conte got cold feet during talks with Levy.
Speaking about his decision to walk away from discussions with the club, the former Chelsea boss said: ‘I look for the projects instead and I am ready to stay at home if something is not convincing me. It has to do with vision, honesty and principles.’
Spurs then made the bold decision of attempting to lure back Mauricio Pochettino, who was sacked in November 2019. The Argentine appeared to be keen on a reunion but Paris Saint-Germain triggered an automatic extension to his contract to block any potential move.
Paulo Fonseca, who was replaced at Roma by Mourinho, was the next man to be targeted by Levy and he looked set to be appointed.
Tottenham have reportedly turned their attentions to ex-Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo
Despite Levy bringing in former Juventus chief Fabio Paratici as managing director in order to get a deal done, talks broke down again. Paratici then contacted Gennaro Gattuso following his swift departure from Fiorentina after just 22 days in charge.
But Gattuso’s historic sexist, homophobic and racist remarks, coupled with his bitter history with Spurs as a player, saw fans unite in howling for the club to abandon talks with the Italian, as #NoToGattuso trended overnight in Britain.
Reports at the weekend claimed the club have turned their attentions to Nuno, who is still without a job after leaving Wolves. Graham Potter has also been linked but neither manager are understood to have been approached.
VERDICT: Tottenham’s search doesn’t look like it’s going to end any time soon and they’ve now tried and failed to land seven different managers. Perhaps it will be eighth time lucky?
EVERTON
Everton are looking for their fifth permanent manager in five years following Ancelotti’s departure earlier this month.
Their delay in appointing the Italian’s replacement is perhaps more understandable, given they were not expecting to be in this position.
Palace and Spurs both knew before the end of last season that they would need to find a new manager but the Toffees’ summer plans were thrown into chaos when Real Madrid came calling for their head coach.
Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez emerged as one of the leading candidates at Everton
Farhad Moshiri, Everton’s majority shareholder, has held talks with both Nuno and Rafa Benitez but is yet to offer either the position.
Nuno seemed to be in pole position and was expecting a formal offer but the club then turned their attentions to former Liverpool boss Benitez.
Supporters were understandably furious due to the Spaniard’s time at their bitter Merseyside rivals, where he called Everton a ‘small club’ in 2007.
Anti-Benitez banners were put up outside Goodison Park last week and it seems the board may be willing to listen to their fans.
Farhad Moshiri, the Toffee’s majority shareholder, has held talks with Benitez and Nuno
According to talkSPORT, the club are ready to end their interest in Benitez due to the negative reaction of the club’s fanbase.
While ditching Benitez would please supporters, it would put Everton back to square one. Non-international players are scheduled to report for pre-season on July 5 – which is just two weeks away.
The club are also set for a tour of the United States and will compete in the Florida Cup in Orlando. They will face Colombian side Millonarios on July 25 before facing either Inter Milan or Arsenal on July 28.
They could still return for Nuno but their interest in the Portuguese seems to have quelled.
Christophe Galiter (left) and Graham Potter (right) have both linked with the Everton job
Lille boss Christophe Galtier has been mentioned as a possible contender and may be the most popular option with fans following his success in France.
Potter is also thought to have admirers at the club but has not been approached.
Duncan Ferguson was interim boss before Ancelotti was appointed and was undefeated in his four games in charge. The Scot is unlikely to get the job on a full-time basis but will probably take charge in pre-season if the club are still without a manager.
VERDICT: Appointing Benitez would undoubtedly turn fans against the board. Galtier, Nuno or Potter may prove more popular but they need to make a decision quickly.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Roy Hodgson said goodbye to Selhurst Park after four years in the dugout with the 73-year-old retiring from management.
His decision, which came before the end of last season, gave the Palace board plenty of time to draw up a list of candidates. But nearly five weeks after Hodgson’s departure was confirmed, the club are still without a manager.
Nuno appeared to be a done deal before the club ended talks with the ex-Wolves boss amid concerns over his demands.
Lucien Favre (left) and Frank Lampard (right) have both been linked with Crystal Palace
Chairman Steve Parish admitted their search was proving challenging but an appointment is needed sooner rather than later, given the club have several players out of contract this summer.
Wilfried Zaha has also told the club he wants to leave and his departure would give the incoming manager a significant problem with Eberechi Eze, the man seen as his successor, set to miss the majority of the 2021-22 campaign with an achilles injury.
Former Borussia Dortmund boss Lucien Favre is the latest man to be linked with the role.
Favre is renowned for developing young players which is of great appeal to Palace, who want their next manager to utilise talent from their academy.
As revealed by Sportsmail on Monday night, Palace have held positive talks with Lucien Favre over their vacant manager’s post.
The former Borussia Dortmund coach, who was sacked in December, is understood to be close to accepting Palace’s offer to succeed Roy Hodgson after deliberating over the weekend.
Palace chairman Steve Parish admitted the search for a new manager has been challenging
Frank Lampard and Steve Cooper, who have experience in bringing through young players, have also been mentioned. Lampard is looking to get back into management after being sacked by Chelsea but is still early into his career while Cooper lacks Premier League experience.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche is another to have been linked but he is poised to sign a new contract at Turf Moor. Ex-Bournemouth man Eddie Howe is another option but he has not been approached.
VERDICT: After four years of steady campaigns under Hodgson, any appointment could be considered a gamble. Favre is perhaps the most experienced of the available options but he was sacked by Dortmund following a 5-1 defeat by Stuttgart last season.