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    Under-fire Antonio Conte hits out at ‘impatient’ Tottenham fans after team booed off in Champions League exit

    ANTONIO CONTE has launched a stinging attack on impatient Spurs fans and his “selfish” £50million flop Richarlison.Tottenham fans booed during and after Wednesday’s limp Champions League exit to AC Milan, which ended a week from hell as they also crashed out of the FA Cup.
    Antonio Conte launched a stinging attack on RicharlisonCredit: Alamy
    And the Italian, set to leave when his contract expires in the summer, slammed the supporters, saying: “The patience of the fans has finished. And we feel this. I feel this. The players feel this.
    “This does not help the situation because there are many players in this moment, also young players that are playing, and they need to improve and go step by step to grow.
    “The club has patience. But the problem is the club also has to make the fans (be patient) because the fans for many, many years are waiting to win something.”
    Richarlison’s outburst means he is unlikely to start at home to Nottingham Forest today,  where the atmosphere could become very uncomfortable for the manager if his side make a poor start.
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    The exit to Milan left the club facing a 15th successive season without a trophy, with chairman Daniel Levy set to wield the axe on Conte’s reign.
    Former Everton striker Richarlison appeared to blast Conte for not explaining why he had been benched for the last two games.
    But Conte said: “The guy understood very well that he made a mistake because when you speak with ‘I, I and I’, not with ‘we’, it means you are thinking only about yourself and you are selfish.
    “If he deserves to play, I give him an opportunity otherwise we will play another player.
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    “I watched the whole interview and he didn’t criticise me. He said his season is ‘s***’ and he is right because his season is no good.
    “Because he had a lot of injuries. He started well with us, he then had injury in the Champions League and then he went to World Cup and he had another serious injury.
    “He came back and stayed one month out. Then another injury.
    “He scored zero goals with us, only two goals in Champions League and I think the guy was really honest to tell that his season is not good.
    “His season and our season has still not finished and he has time to recover. ”
    Richarlison has rarely started, with the Italian boss preferring Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski up front.
    Conte’s other option is to start January loan signing Arnaut Danjuma, who has had just 47 minutes of action since arriving.
    Arnaut Danjuma has hardly featured under Antonio ConteCredit: Reuters
    But worryingly, Conte admitted it was the club’s choice to sign the Dutchman — and  questioned if he could fit into his favoured line-up.
    He said: “I am sorry for (Danjuma) because he arrived in January and the club wanted to sign on loan this player.
    “Maybe he has not specific characteristics to be a No 10.  Maybe he is more a second striker or a winger.”
    Conte also claimed that he was doomed to fail in his spell at Tottenham as his trophy-laden career meant fan expectations were miles too high from day one.
    But he insisted that he is “ready to die for this club” until his contract expires at the end of the season.
    He said: “The problem for me is only one — that every club where I coached, I won. Expectation has always been very, very high.
    “I remember very well when I arrived at this club everybody said, ‘Now, we have Conte — he won in the past, so now we are going to win!’
    “But we have to win together. We have to create the right situation.
    “I can teach you the path to win, but you have to follow me. And have patience. I need time and patience.
    “Maybe I do have time, because the club can give me that. But I am seeing there is no patience (from the fans). For me it’s really, really difficult. Maybe my past penalises me.”
    This was the man with the midas touch, who had tasted success everywhere he went, securing league titles at Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan. Surely he would be the one to finally deliver the silverware that Tottenham supporters have been craving.
    Richarlison looks set to be left out again against Nottingham ForestCredit: PA
    But 15 months into his tenure and after a week from hell, Conte feels any grace from the terraces has evaporated.
    Emergency gallbladder surgery saw assistant Cristian Stellini stand in for four games before he returned for a second time for Wednesday’s Champions League nightmare against AC Milan.
    It is a matter of when, not if, Conte leaves, but the fiery boss is adamant he will give his all until the end of the campaign.
    The Premier League winner said: “Until the end of the season I am ready to die for this club and then we will see because I am not so stupid to continue to kill myself.
    “You know with the club we signed a contract, a strange contract – one-year-and-a-half.
    “Usually you sign a contract for three years but I think it was for the club and also for myself to see the situation.
    “For the club to understand my personality, my capacity as a coach and for me from my side it was also the same. To understand if we were on the same page and if we wanted to do something important.
    “Now after one year and a half, the club knows me, I know the club and it is clear this situation.”
    Spurs are currently in fourth and now, after their cup exits, have free weeks leading up to ten of their remaining 12 league games.
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    That extra time to prepare certainly helped them finish strongly last season and they have a favourable run coming up too, starting with Forest.
    Still, Conte claimed finishing in the top four will be harder than it was last season, adding: “For us, it is like winning the Premier League in this moment.” More

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    Harry Kane transfer to PSG makes perfect sense – he can make Messi and Mbappe even better

    AFTER Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain were eliminated from the Champions League this week, one transfer makes perfect sense to me — Harry Kane to PSG.It is clear that Harry wants a move from Spurs and, with just one year left on his contract, this summer will be the last chance for his club to bring in a substantial transfer fee.
    Tottenham superstar Harry Kane should consider joining Paris Saint-GermainCredit: Getty
    SunSport columnist Troy Deeney claims Harry Kane would finally win trophies at PSGCredit: The Sun
    The England captain could have done no more than he has in his attempts to win a trophy for the North London side.
    He is the club’s all-time record goalscorer and he has been hugely influential but, yet again, the team has gone another season without coming anywhere near winning a trophy.
    I was flicking between Tottenham’s hugely disappointing goalless draw with AC Milan and PSG’s 2-0 Last-16 second-leg defeat at Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.
    And the French champions, for all their attacking talent, really do seem to lack a proper centre-forward.
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    Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are possibly the best two players on the planet — but they are always looking to go out wide, likewise Neymar when he is fit.
    They would really benefit from a world-class player to go through the middle and Kane would be outstanding for them.
    Kane wants medals and he would win bagfuls of them in French domestic football with PSG. You could call them “easy medals” but if anyone deserves them, then Harry does.
    He would score 30 or 40 goals a season there and he could be the man who finally makes the difference in that club winning a Champions League.
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    I don’t see Spurs winning  trophies any time soon.
    As a club, they need a major rebuild, which will take two or three seasons at least.
    Spurs fans won’t want to hear it but they need to follow Arsenal’s example —  to build a new, young, fresh team under a hungry young manager. That means things might get worse before they get better.
     And Kane, who turns 30 this summer, hasn’t got time for that.
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    The spine of this Spurs team is unconvincing.
    When fit, Hugo Lloris is still the No 1 keeper and we know he is going to chuck a few goals in every season.
    Likewise, Eric Dier in central defence — he makes too many costly errors.
    In midfield, against AC Milan, they had Oliver Skipp and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. 
    Those two are not going to win you major trophies.
    Hojbjerg is a combative player but he came from Southampton, he is not a player who is used to winning every week.
    Up front, there’s Son Heung-min, who enjoyed such a richly productive partnership with Kane for so long but whose form has slumped completely this season.
    Dejan Kulusevski is young and inconsistent. Then there’s Richarlison — who I know well as a team-mate when we were at Watford.
    I like Richarlison but I didn’t want to hear him moaning about a lack of game-time after the Milan match.
    He hasn’t scored in the Premier League all season. He needs to keep quiet, knuckle down and get some work done.
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    When I look at the spine of Tottenham’s team with that of Arsenal, well, there really is no comparison.
    Aaron Ramsdale is so solid, so too the centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
    Thomas Partey is probably the best defensive midfielder in the league, Martin Odegaard has been outstanding and — when he is fit — I really like Gabriel Jesus up front as well.
    I never got the feeling that Spurs were going to score against Milan. I’m sure Harry himself will admit that he didn’t have a great game. There was a header in injury-time, which forced a good save, but that was it.
    There was so little service. His England team-mate Harry Maguire has now been linked with a move to PSG — and I think they should go for Kane as well.
    Paris is not far from his family base in London and, while we always assume that if he left Spurs he would stay in England, I think he would benefit from a totally fresh start.
    Manchester United feels like the most obvious move for Kane this summer and Erik ten Hag is clearly after a centre-forward.
    But Spurs chairman Daniel Levy would still be reluctant to do business with a domestic rival.
    If PSG came in, he might be more tempted to cash in.
    Kane is an excellent pro, he will never allow his head to go down, he will never become petulant.
    It’s obvious, though, that he is getting  frustrated. Every time you see him dropping deep into midfield to try and influence play, you know that the team is not functioning properly.
    Spurs do have the best stadium in the country — but they don’t have a team to match. Nowhere near.
    It looks almost certain that Antonio Conte will leave soon — and they have to make sure they get the next managerial appointment right.
    I’m not sure whether going back for Mauricio Pochettino would be the right move, I’d go for a younger coach on the way up and then show some patience.
    Whoever they appoint, it feels the time is right for Kane to go.
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    If he leaves, he will go with a heavy heart, he’s “one of their own” at Spurs and that means a lot to him.
    But a player with Harry’s quality and dedication deserves to win things — and I reckon Paris could be the perfect place. More

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    Tottenham should SACK Conte and appoint out-of-work manager ‘as soon as possible’ says ex-England legend Merson

    ARSENAL legend Paul Merson has told Tottenham to sack Antonio Conte NOW and replace him with the man everyone knows will replace him.The Italian’s future was plunged into serious doubt this week after they meekly bowed out of the Champions League.
    Antonio Conte’s future at Tottenham remains unclearCredit: Rex
    Spurs produced a tepid performance as they failed to overturn a 1-0 deficit against AC Milan with their manager receiving boos and jeers from supporters when he replaced attacker Dejan Kulusevski with centre-back Davinson Sanchez for the final minutes.
    Conte’s future had already been the subject of much scrutiny with his lucrative contract set to expire this summer and no talks to extend his stay.
    That has led to speculation over potential replacements for him at Spurs, with many wanting their ex-boss Mauricio Pochettino, who is out of work currently, to return.
    And former England attacker Merson has told the Daily Star to just get on with it.
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    He said: “Mauricio Pochettino is going to be appointed the manager of Tottenham in the summer, so why not get him now? There is no point messing about.
    “What’s the point in keeping Antonio Conte, do you want to get in the top four or not? Spurs have just gone out of two competitions and it’s now been 15 years since their last trophy.
    “I really don’t like to see managers get the sack as they are humans but at the same time you’ve got to shake things up.
    “I would do it now. Spurs are a big football club and are currently going nowhere.
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    “I was talking to a Tottenham season ticket holder on the school run in midweek and I told him that Wednesday night against AC Milan was the worst I’ve ever seen from a Spurs side. It really was that bad. He agreed.”
    Merson added: “For me, Pochettino should come on board as soon as possible. He could lift the players in the race for fourth and it also gives him time to prepare for next season.
    “It’s such a win-win as Conte no longer looks like he wants to be there anymore.”
    Spurs sacked Poch was sacked by Tottenham after five-and-a-half years in charge back in November 2019.
    Despite not winning a trophy for Spurs, he guided the club to four consecutive Champions League finishes.
    Prior to his arrival, Spurs had finished in the top four in just two of their previous 22 seasons in the Premier League.
    He also took the club to the Champions League final in 2019, but Liverpool prevailed as they won 2-0.
    After replacing Tim Sherwood in 2014, Poch took charge of 293 games, winning 159, losing 72 and drawing on 62 occasions.
    Mauricio Pochettino is the man that many fans want to return to SpursCredit: AFP More

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    ‘Richarlison is right, his season is s***’ – Conte hits back at ‘SELFISH’ striker and hints he doesn’t deserve to play

    ANTONIO CONTE has revealed that he is in full agreement with Richarlison that the Brazilian has been “s***” this season.And in an explosive press conference, the Tottenham boss also said that the 25-year-old had “scored no goals” and labelled the forward “selfish”.
    Antonio Conte says he agrees that Richarlison has had a ‘s***’ seasonCredit: Alamy
    The Brazilian launched a stunning blast at his boss for benching himCredit: Alamy
    Spurs splashed out £60m to Everton last summer to sign Richarlison but he has only managed two goals in 25 appearances after an injury-ravaged campaign.
    He was brought on for the final 20 minutes of his team’s Champions League draw with AC Milan on Wednesday, a result which eliminated them from the competition, and afterwards the star let rip at his manager for benching him and said that it has been “s***” this season.
    However, ahead of their game with Nottingham Forest tomorrow, Conte said: “First of all I watched the interview of Richarlison. He didn’t criticise me. He said his season was s*** and he’s right. 
    “His season has been not good. He had injuries, played and scored in the Champions League and then went to the World Cup and then had a serious injury. 
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    “He’s scored no goals for us. I think he was really honest to say his season was not good. His season has not finished yet. If he deserves to play I’ll give him the opportunity.
    “For the rest of the interview, I think he made a mistake. When you speak of ‘I’ and not ‘us’ you are being selfish.
    “I say to my players if we want to build something important and win a trophy we have to speak with ‘we’ not with ‘I’, because otherwise you’re thinking of yourself.
    “He made a mistake and he apologised and it was good for me to clarify with the team again about this. In this aspect we have to improve. We have to be more of a team and show more spirit positive, especially in negative moments.”
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    Conte continued: “Sometimes it’s not enough to be a good guy. You have to to show the right desire and fight to win the game and the duels, to be nasty. I think that sometimes we are a bit soft, but I’m the coach and I’m the first responsible for this to happen and it doesn’t happen every time.
    “I have to improve the team and I have to improve the spirit of my team. It always happened in the past and I hope it happens here.”
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    Pressure is mounting on Conte as speculation over whether he will stay or go at Spurs rumbles on.
    He added: “Again my future. In this moment, the most important thing is to be focused on the league. 
    “You know what is my opinion, what is my desire. I say to you a lot of times that the situation that I have found, and we are far to aspire to be competitive to fight to win. 
    “I repeat this for a long time. We need time and patience. I see the environment has no patience or the environment does not want to see the reality. 
    “The club knows very well what is my situation and they know what are my thoughts. We can’t do miracles. If I am to take the people as a target. I am not this person. The reality is this.
    “We’ll see what happens in the future. I’m not stupid to kill myself. Until the end though I am ready to die for this club but then we’ll see, I’m not too stupid to keep killing myself.” More

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    Man Utd ‘determined to sign Harry Kane this summer as Ten Hag makes England captain top transfer target over Osimhen’

    MANCHESTER UNITED boss Erik ten Hag has made Tottenham talisman Harry Kane his No1 target, according to reports.SunSport exclusively revealed this week that United are growing increasingly confident they will land the Spurs striker this summer.
    Harry Kane could finally depart Spurs this summerCredit: Getty
    Their recent disappointments mean another season without silverware is guaranteed for England captain Kane – who has never won a major trophy.
    And with his contract up at the end of the 2023/24 season, a departure from his boyhood club seems more likely than ever.
    United have also been linked with Napoli sensation Victor Osimhen.
    But, according to Manchester Evening News, Ten Hag has prioritised Kane to reinvent his attacking line-up this summer.
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    Man Utd, who look set to qualify for the Champions League, are hoping to beat Bayern Munich to Spurs’ record scorer, with the Bundesliga champions also interested in signing him.
    Kane has scored 268 times in 428 appearances for Tottenham, including 20 already this season.
    He attempted to leave the club in 2021 but Spurs chief Daniel Levy blocked him from joining Manchester City.
    Now, though, the forward has more bargaining power given he is preparing to enter the final 12 months of his contract.
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    United have been linked with pursuing a number of other forwards at the end of the season.
    They include Osimhen, who has netted 21 goals in 26 games this term.
    Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos and Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus are other potential acquisitions.
    In order to bring in a new attacker, Ten Hag is expected to sell Anthony Martial.
    The Frenchman, 27, has contributed just 14 goals in his last three seasons and remains incredibly injury-prone.
    Victor Osimhen has been linked with a move to the Premier LeagueCredit: Reuters More

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    Champions League winner ‘keen on Tottenham job’ with Conte set for exit and club concerned about rehiring Pochettino

    FORMER Barcelona manger Luis Enrique is “keen” on becoming Tottenham manager, according to reports.Spurs boss Antonio Conte’s time in charge of the club appears to be coming to an end following his side’s insipid Champions League exit at the hands of AC Milan.
    Antonio Conte is set to depart Tottenham before the start of next seasonCredit: Rex
    Ex-Barcelona and Spain boss Luis Enrique is being linked with the vacancyCredit: Getty
    And it now seems to be a matter of time before he is replaced in North London.
    SunSport exclusively revealed on Thursday that Spurs face a battle to persuade Thomas Tuchel to take the job.
    Ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, 51, is another name that has been heavily linked with the role.
    Spurs fans could be heard singing the Argentine’s name as they made their way out of the ground following their European exit earlier this week.
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    But, according to The Times, there are concerns among club chiefs about rehiring Pochettino – who was sacked in 2019 after a five-year stint.
    And Spanish coach Enrique, 52, is now being mooted as an alternative option.
    The former Barcelona and Spain national team boss is understood to be “keen” on assuming the position.
    It comes three months after he was sacked by his country’s FA following a last-16 exit at the World Cup at the hands of Morocco.
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    Enrique won nine trophies during his three seasons with Barcelona including two LaLiga titles, three Copa del Reys and the Champions League.
    He boasts the highest win percentage of any Barca head coach since 2000 at 76.2 per cent.
    Meanwhile, Spurs are still seeking a first piece of silverware since 2008.
    Exits from the FA Cup and Champions League mean they will be made to wait until at least 2024 to lift a trophy.
    It remains to be seen when Conte will depart the club, with his contract up at the end of the season.
    Tottenham’s performance and result at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday is set to determine how long he will stay at the helm.
    Mauricio Pochettino is thought to be keen on a return to TottenhamCredit: The Mega Agency More

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    Richarlison should be BANISHED to Tottenham U18s after incredible moan about Antonio Conte, slams pundit

    GABBY AGBONLAHOR has slammed Risharlison and thinks he should be banished to the U18s following his rant about Antonio Conte’s team selection.The Brazilian forward hit out at the Italian after he was benched for Tottenham’s Champions League defeat to AC Milan.
    Gabby Agbonlahor has hit out at Richarlison over his rant at Antonio ConteCredit: The Sun
    He thinks that Richarlison should train with the U18sCredit: Alamy
    Richarlison believed that he should have started the game following his appearances against West Ham and Chelsea.
    He said: “That’s what I didn’t understand, too [being a substitute]. It was going well, in a good sequence, two wins against West Ham and Chelsea.

    “Suddenly, [assistant boss Cristian Stellini] put me on the bench, against Wolverhampton he put me on for five minutes. I asked why? They didn’t tell me anything.
    “Let’s see what [Conte] will say tomorrow, but there are no fools here either, I’m a professional, I work every day and I want to play. There are minutes left, time left.
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    “This season, excuse the word, it’s been s***, because I don’t have minutes, I suffered a little with the injury. But, when I enter the field, I give my life. I came from two games well, I think that’s it, I think I should have played and I don’t have to cry about it.”
    And his outburst has caused Agbonlahor to take aim at him with his overall performance since making his £60million move to Tottenham from Everton last summer.
    He told talkSPORT: “Richarlison, £60 million he cost. Premier League goals zero, assists, two.
    “Always moaning, always rolling around on the floor.
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    “He’s come out and said he’s had a positive moment and say’s Conte put me on the bench. His positive moment is two games, zero goals – I don’t’ get it?
    “Positive for £60m is a couple of goals, a couple of assists. So don’t be moaning when you’re not performing when you’re given a chance.
    “If I’m Conte and Conte looks like that kind of manager, I’m sure his boots and kit are in the U18 dressing room this morning.”
    The 25-year-old has featured 25 times for the North London side this season but has only scored twice, both of which came in the Champions League. More

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    Tottenham facing battle to persuade Thomas Tuchel to become new manager – despite ex-Chelsea boss being Spurs fan

    TOTTENHAM are facing a battle to persuade Thomas Tuchel to be their new manager.Ex-Chelsea boss Tuchel and former Spurs chief Mauricio Pochettino are the top candidates to succeed Antonio Conte.
    Ex-PSG and Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel says he was a Tottenham Hotspur fan as a kid because of their ‘adventurous’ nameCredit: Getty
    Mauricio Pochettino is rated the main rival to Tuchel for the Spurs job and his return wold be popular with supportersCredit: Getty
    It is now a matter of when, not if, Conte departs after a week from hell in which  the club crashed out of both the FA Cup and Champions League.
    His deal expires in the summer and Spurs will NOT extend it.
    Chairman Daniel Levy is understood to have reservations about bringing back fans’ favourite Pochettino.
    But if he plumps for Tuchel, he needs to convince the German coach he can give him the tools to make Tottenham serious trophy challengers.
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    Conte, 53, admitted he feared the sack after Wednesday’s Champions League KO to AC Milan.
    Spurs have no immediate plans to get rid of the Italian, who has just recovered from emergency gallbladder surgery.
    But the board could change tack if they feel Tottenham’s chances of finishing in the top four are under threat.
    Tuchel, 49, has been a free agent since his shock Stamford Bridge axing by Chelsea’s billionaire owner Todd Boehly in September.
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    The ex-Borussia Dortmund boss insists he was a Spurs fan growing up and was fascinated by their “adventurous” Tottenham Hotspur name.
    He is thought to be keen on a return to England.
    But having managed Paris Saint-Germain to a Champions League final in 2020, before winning the competition a year later with Chelsea, Tuchel has been waiting for a vacancy at an elite club.
    However, some fans may object to the prospect of a FIFTH ex-Blues boss being hired by Levy, who has previously appointed Glenn Hoddle, Andre Villas-Boas, Jose Mourinho and Conte.
    A return for Poch would be a crowd-pleaser, given how loved he was   in five years in charge of Spurs.
    The Argentine took them to the 2019 Champions League final and his name was chanted by supporters during Wednesday’s 0-0 last-16 second leg draw with Milan, which sent the Italian giants through 1-0 on aggregate.
    Others in the frame for Conte’s job include ex- Spain and Barcelona boss Luis Enrique, Brighton chief Roberto De Zerbi  and Eintracht Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner.
    The situation is further complicated by the club awaiting the fate of director of football Fabio Paratici, who has a big say  on managerial appointments.
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    Paratici is set to discover within a month if his appeal against  a 2½-year ban from Italian  football is successful.
    If not, the suspension for his part in alleged financial irregularities at former club Juventus could be extended worldwide, in which case his role at Spurs would surely become untenable.
    Even if Antonio Conte survives until the summer, Spurs will not extend his dealCredit: Rex More