Jose Mourinho is keeping tabs on Mauricio Pochettino’s situation at Tottenham and would reportedly be keen on taking over at Spurs if the job becomes available.
The Portuguese coach has been out of work for almost a year since leaving Manchester United last December, though he is believed to be itching for a return to management.
Mourinho has been linked with a host of clubs and is rumoured to be Real Madrid president Florentino Perez’s preferred choice to take over from Zinedine Zidane if and when he goes.
However, according to The Sun, Mourinho has confided in friends that he would not necessarily accept Real’s advances while the possibility of taking over at Spurs exists.
The self-proclaimed Special One would be interested in talking to the club should they part ways with Pochettino, who is under increasing pressure after a poor start to the season.
Spurs have not won a Premier League match since beating Southampton at the end of September and sit in 14th place, 11 points adrift of the top four.
Mourinho is believed to favour staying in the Premier League – and particularly London, where his family still live.
Offering an insight into how Mourinho will approach his search for a new job, Glen Johnson – who played under the Portuguese coach – told Express Sport: ‘Jose is sitting in the shadows at the moment.
‘He’s being patient and things change so quickly in football where a job that seems secure now, might not be in two months’ time.
‘Arsenal and Tottenham are the two places where the doors could be open sooner but I don’t think I could see him at Arsenal.
‘He’ll wait for it to unfold over Christmas and perhaps he’ll cherry-pick after that. But I don’t think he’s the type to rush and get a job just for the sake of getting one.’
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