Ajax boss Erik Ten Hag 'back in the frame to become new Tottenham manager'

Ajax boss Erik Ten Hag is reportedly back in the frame for the Tottenham job after their bid to bring Antonio Conte to north London stalled on Friday.

Spurs are still seeking a replacement for Jose Mourinho, who was sacked in April, and have been thwarted in attempts to recruit Julian Nagelsmann and Brendan Rodgers.

Talks with Conte, who is chairman Daniel Levy's preferred choice, have also stalled due to the Italian's concerns over the club's ambitions. And The Mirror now claim Ten Hag, who was one of the original candidates, is back in the frame.

A move for Ten Hag looked unlikely after Ajax triggered an extension clause in the Dutchman's contract, which will keep him in Amsterdam until 2023.

'We want to work on a successful and attractive Ajax,' ten Hag told the club's official website after signing his new deal in April.

'I know what I have here and I know the people I work with here. I also know how we can take the next step with this team. I'm happy here.'

'Getting somewhere is one thing, staying somewhere is another. Ajax is back on the map internationally. We get the recognition we deserve for that, but we want even more. We want to go even higher and challenge the top clubs in Europe.'

However, the Mirror report that Spurs will look to see if they can agree a deal to bring the 51-year-old to the Premier League next month.

Ten Hag won the Eredivisie and the Dutch Cup last season and was manager when Ajax made the Champions League semi-final in 2019, where they were dramatically beaten by Tottenham.

Spurs are said to have been impressed with the football Ten Hag's team played in both European fixtures.

Ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has also been linked with a return to north London but a deal has proved difficult, with Paris Saint-Germain not determined to keep him in France.

Talks with Conte are set to continue over the weekend but Spurs need to convince him of their long-term project. Conte, 51, wants assurances the club are serious about eventually challenging for major silverware.

Fabrizio Romano also reports that Conte was unconvinced of the club's project as well as an inability to bring more than four staff members, while their remained a big difference in salary expectations between the Italian and Spurs chiefs.

Former Chelsea boss Conte is used to winning trophies and wanted assurances that the club are serious about eventually challenging for major silverware.