Tottenham working on compensation deal to sack Antonio Conte as Ryan Mason waits in wings to take over as interim boss
TOTTENHAM chief Daniel Levy is believed to be negotiating a compensation deal with Antonio Conte before sacking the Italian boss.
And first-team coach Ryan Mason is on stand-by to take charge for the rest of the season.
Spurs are expected to sack Conte this week after SunSport revealed some stars want the Italian axed after he accused them of being ‘selfish’ in an astonishing rant following Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Southampton.
First-team coach Mason, who replaced Jose Mourinho in 2021 for seven games, looks set to get a chance to shine once again.
And Harry Redknapp, who was Tottenham manager between 2008-12, says he would be willing to help Mason, who is expected to include Chris Powell, Jermain Defoe and Michel Vorm in his backroom team if he is called upon.
Redknapp, 76, said: “Yeah of course, I would love that. If someone asks you, it would be hard to say no. It’s the challenge, you love it, the buzz of it, winning a game is a fantastic feeling.
“I often think there is room for older people to go in and work with a young manager, even if it was only for a couple of days a week just to be around.
“They can bounce ideas off you – that’s important. It’s a difficult job and when you’re young it’s important to have someone experienced there with you. It’s a lonely job and you need all the help you can get.”
Redknapp has had no contact with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who is believed to be working on a compensation deal for Conte – back in Italy for a few days – and his six members of staff yesterday while Mason, 31, took training.
But after seeing golden oldies Roy Hodgson, 75, and Neil Warnock, 74, return to the dug-out with Crystal Palace and Huddersfield, Redknapp admitted it would be difficult to turn down an approach.
Redknapp told talkSPORT: “If someone asks you, I think it would be hard to say no, I’ll be truthful. When you love it, you do find it hard to say no, as Roy and Neil would agree.
“You look at what you’re doing now, sitting around, having a game of golf, and it’s not the money, it’s the challenge, you love it, the buzz of it, winning a game is a fantastic feeling. It’s hard to say no.”
Ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is keen to return but Levy is believed to be a fan of Fulham chief Marco Silva and Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou while Eintracht Frankfurt chief Oliver Glasner has also been linked.
Meanwhile, Spurs midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has taken a swipe at boss Conte by telling him to be “more precise” with stinging criticism.
Hojbjerg yesterday became the first player to publicly air his frustration at Conte’s blast.
Hojbjerg said: “You do what you can to please him. What I do know is I’m an honest player, who always gives 100 per cent for the team.
“If that’s how he sees it, then you have to be a little more precise in order for you as a player to take it to heart. Sometimes the waves go high in football.
The Dane added: “We’ve all seen it. He gave a very honest and very open press conference. It is because he is not satisfied.
“You don’t do that if you’ve reached the quarter-final of the Champions League and if you’re in the semi-final of the FA Cup.
“It comes from the fact that, unfortunately, we did not get the results we as a team and club wanted. We are still where we want and need to be in the Premier League. But yes, it’s hard.
“I understand that if you want to be successful as a team, you need 11 men who are committed to a project and a culture. But he has to elaborate on how he feels before you as a player can start measuring and weighing.”