Tottenham eyeing Erik ten Hag as Julian Nagelsmann alternative

Ajax manager Erik ten Hag is reported to have moved up in Tottenham's estimations now that the North London club appear to have missed out on Julian Nagelsmann.

Spurs are on the hunt for a new boss after Jose Mourinho was dismissed earlier this month. 29-year-old Ryan Mason made the record books when he stepped in as interim head coach and became the youngest manager in Premier League history, and he will remain in charge until the end of the season.

It would take something miraculous for Mason to earn the job on a permanent basis, however. Tottenham are on the lookout for a boss with more experience to lead them forward and it was widely reported that Nagelsmann - who has worked wonders with Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig in Germany - was one of the leading contenders.

A rapidly developing story in Germany, though, suggests he is on the brink of succeeding Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich. It was reported earlier on Monday that he had asked for his contract to be terminated in Leipzig, and it is now being claimed that the two clubs have agreed terms over a compensation fee.

It's a set-back for Tottenham, who felt that Nagelsmann's adventurous and aggressive style of football was the right fit to lead them into the post-Mourinho era. But The Telegraph report that they have instantly turned their attentions to another manager who likes to play on the front foot in Ajax's Ten Hag.

Ten Hag has been in charge of the Amsterdam side since 2017 and stands on the brink of leading them to another Eredivisie title. They've scored 89 goals in the league this season, 23 more than any other team, and Ten Hag has been hailed for his gung-ho tactical approach.

It's claimed that he has moved to the top of the list now that Nagelsmann is out of the picture. He could be a far more attainable target than the German, given that his contract is up in 2022.

90min has previously reported on interest in Brendan Rodgers, but he is currently focused on guiding Leicester into the top four, with the FA Cup final with Chelsea next month also on the horizon. Leicester are fighting to keep hold of the Northern Irishman, and should they attain their goals in the remainder of the season, he could be out of Spurs' reach.

Other names noted by The Telegraph are England boss Gareth Southgate and Belgium's Roberto Martinez, but neither will be available until after the European Championships at the earliest. Given Spurs are keen to sort their situation out quickly, they seem unlikely to wait for either.