Tottenham remain confident of appointing an interim head coach by Monday when the players will return to training for the first time since Thomas Frank‘s sacking.
Former Juventus boss Igor Tudor, former Leipzig boss Marco Rose and former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic are among the latest names to be linked to the role.
Spurs want someone with the experience of stepping in and a track record for making an impact at short notice to provide the bounce that would lift them clear of the relegation battle.
It would enable them to make a permanent appointment in the summer from a broader pool of options, which will include the interim.
This rules out Frank’s assistant John Heitinga and former striker Robbie Keane, who is currently in charge of Hungarian league leaders Ferencvaros and not likely to want to leave quit that job for one that might only last four months.
Former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic and ex-Leipzig boss Marco Rose are options
Thomas Frank was sacked on Wednesday and Spurs want a temporary replacement for now
Roberto De Zerbi, who left Marseille this week, is another linked but Spurs are put off by his combustibility. There are also concerns about his role in enabling Mason Greenwood to repair his career after leaving Manchester United in disgrace.
Spurs with chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange leading the search appear to have moved on to other targets.
Frank was sacked on Wednesday, less than 12 hours after a defeat at home to Newcastle.
Spurs are five points clear of the relegation zone. Their next game is at home to Arsenal on Sunday week, by which time West Ham will have closed the gap to two points if they beat Bournemouth at home, 24 hours before the North London derby.
Venkatesham and Lange have no margin for error in the first managerial appointment since Daniel Levy was ousted as the club’s executive chairman.
Spurs have lost a strong network of football connections with the exit of Levy in September and co sporting director Fabio Paratici, earlier this month.