The managerial situation at Tottenham Hotspur is reaching a fever pitch as the club’s leadership begins to look beyond the tenure of Thomas Frank.
Following a string of results that have left the North London side looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone rather than up at the Champions League places, reports have emerged that the club has initiated contact with representatives of Xabi Alonso.
While Frank remains in the dugout for now, the reality of the situation is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. The optimism that greeted his appointment has largely faded, replaced by a sense of dread as the team continues to drop points against opposition they should, on paper, be brushing aside.
The most recent disappointment came at Turf Moor, where Tottenham could only manage a 2-2 draw against a struggling Burnley side. While the statistics suggested a dominant performance Spurs registered eighteen shots with eleven of them hitting the target the actual result told a different story.
It took a desperate, 90th-minute header from Cristian Romero just to salvage a single point. This “down to earth with a bump” moment was particularly painful as it followed a week where West Ham United picked up a victory, narrowing the gap between Tottenham and the bottom three to a mere eight points.
For a club with the stadium, squad, and global profile of Spurs, being within touching distance of a relegation scrap in late January is nothing short of a crisis.
Internal discussions regarding Frank’s position were reportedly held last week. While the board has publicly maintained a stance of support, the upcoming fixture list looks like a gauntlet that could break any manager’s resolve.
After a vital Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday, Tottenham must face a relentless run of games against Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Arsenal. It is widely believed that if results do not take a drastic turn for the better during this period, the board will be forced to act.
The search for a replacement is already underway, with intermediaries being “sounded out” to gauge the interest of elite coaching talent.
Xabi Alonso has emerged as the primary target for those who want a marquee name to lead the club’s next chapter. Alonso is currently available after a complicated stint at Real Madrid, where he left despite a high win percentage due to internal club politics.
However, early reports from club insiders suggest that the initial response from Alonso’s camp has not been particularly positive. The Spaniard is a man in high demand and is understandably cautious about his next move.
Having already achieved historic success by leading Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title, he is in a position where he can afford to wait for the perfect project.
The competition for Alonso’s signature is fierce, and Tottenham is not the only club with a historical connection or a deep pocketbook reaching out. Liverpool is also rumored to be monitoring the situation closely.
With Arne Slot under increasing pressure at Anfield following a disappointing run of form, the prospect of Alonso returning to the club where he is a certified legend is a narrative that many on Merseyside would love to see.
For Alonso, the choice between the chaos of the current Tottenham project and the emotional pull of a return to Liverpool is a significant dilemma. He is reportedly in no rush to make a decision, knowing that more opportunities will likely open up as the European season reaches its conclusion in the summer.
If a move for Alonso fails to materialize, Tottenham has other options on their radar. Xavi Hernandez, the former Barcelona boss, is currently unattached and would satisfy the fans’ desire for a high-profile, tactically modern coach.
There is also the possibility of waiting until the summer, when managers like Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola, or even the fan-favorite Mauricio Pochettino might become available.
Pochettino, who is currently leading the USA national team toward the 2026 World Cup, remains the “dream” return for many supporters, though the logistics of such a move remain incredibly complex.
The challenge for any new manager coming into N17 is the sheer lack of defensive control currently being exhibited by the squad. Regardless of the formation whether it is Frank’s recent experiment with a back three or a traditional back four the team continues to concede soft goals.
The high-risk individual defending of players like Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven has led to some pundits labeling the defensive displays as “comedy central.” Solving this lack of discipline while maintaining the attacking flair the fans demand is a task that requires a world-class tactical mind.
As the clock ticks down toward Wednesday’s European tie, the pressure on Thomas Frank is palpable. He knows that in the modern Premier League, a “better performance” without a winning result is rarely enough to save a job.
The contact with Xabi Alonso’s representatives serves as a clear warning: the hierarchy is no longer just planning for the future; they are actively searching for an escape route from the present. Whether Frank can fight his way out of this corner or if a new era under a continental heavyweight is about to begin will likely be decided in the coming weeks.
