Tottenham have made Red Bull Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann their preferred candidate to replace sacked Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese was relieved of his duties on Monday morning, just six days before Spurs face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.
Sportsmail has reported a series of stories since February indicating Mourinho was facing losing his job following a largely disappointing season.
Indeed, Spurs have been preparing for Mourinho's departure for a number of weeks with Nagelsmann now understood to be aware of the club's interest in him.
Intriguingly, the German is said to be open to joining Tottenham this summer which should encourage chairman Daniel Levy.
However, there is growing skepticism about Tottenham's chances of landing the highly-rated 33-year-old.
Naglesmann still has two years to run on his contract at Red Bull, meaning it could cost Spurs up to £10million to release him from his contract.
Given his emergence as one of the most highly regarded managers in Europe, he will demand a significant rise on his current wages, which are understood to be in the region of £5million a year.
That all equates to an expensive appointment for Levy, who is working to a very tight budget due to the financial impact of Covid, though the potential riches to be earned in the European Super League would certainly help pay for Nagelsmann's appointment.
But in a further complication, Nagelsmann will be a prime target to replace outgoing Bayern Munich boss Hans Flick this summer - a prospect Tottenham chiefs are concerned about.
All that leaves Tottenham's interest in the German coach in the balance, with Spurs already looking at alternatives.
Leicester head coach Brendan Rodgers has admirers in the Tottenham boardroom - but the cost of getting him out of the King Power Stadium could be prohibitive.
Rodgers is known to be aware of Spurs' interest, but the former Liverpool boss is understood to have significant reservations about replacing Mourinho - particularly given the level of control he currently has at Leicester.
Fulham boss Scott Parker, who played for Spurs, and Brighton's Graham Potter could emerge as candidates - while Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo has also been linked.
In the meantime, academy coach and former player Ryan Mason, alongside Chris Powell, who also works in Tottenham's youth set-up, will take charge of the team most likely until the summer.
However, it is very unlikely the pair will remain in charge past the end of this season
Mourinho leaves Tottenham with a compensation pay out of around £16million - a sum significantly less than the widely purported £30million he was said to be due.
As Sportsmail exclusively revealed this month, the level of compensation Mourinho would be entitle to in the event of his sacking was linked to performance related clauses in his contract.
Mourinho will be placed on gardening leave despite his dismissal meaning Spurs will continue to pay him as normal until he finds new employment meaning, in reality, his severance package will likely be less than £16m.
It has been reported that the Special One would be entitled to at least £30million if he lost his job.
But that is not the case due to the fact Spurs are seventh in the Premier League, effectively meaning Mourinho is not entitled to his full compensation.
Likewise, initial indications that the Portuguese was earning £15million a season are said to be exaggerated, with Mourinho's basic wage closer to £10million, which significantly decreases his severance deal.