The walls are closing in on Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Australian started his tenure in North London with a sensational run of ten games last season, but things have gone from bad to worse since then.
As things stand, the North Londoners are 14th in the Premier League, with more defeats than wins to their name, and while injuries have played their part, the team that lost against Fulham at the weekend was at almost full strength.
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Such a poor return this season has understandably seen a number of top managers touted to replace the Australian in the summer, such as Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, but a recent report has now thrown another name into the ring.
Spurs' manager search
According to a recent report from the Telegraph, Daniel Levy and Co have identified Iraloa and Fulham boss Marco Silva as 'leading candidates' to replace Postecoglou should they sack him in the summer.
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The report reiterates that following the North Londoners' latest defeat - their 15th in the Premier League this season - the pressure is starting to mount on the Australian significantly.
Interestingly, while Bournemouth are expected to fight tooth and nail to keep hold of their manager for at least another season, there are 'doubts emerging over Silva's future at Fulham', which could give the Lilywhites a real opportunity to land their man.
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Moreover, while he has a contract with the Cottagers until the end of next season, it reportedly has a £6m release clause, making a scenario in which he joins Spurs entirely plausible.
Why Spurs should hire Silva
So, the argument for sacking Postecoglou is pretty straightforward: he's lost 19 of 46 games this season and is averaging just 1.50 points per game across all competitions.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou looks on
However, if it comes down to choosing between Silva and Iraola in the summer to replace him, why should Levy and Co go with the former?
Well, the first reason is the simple fact that, as mentioned above, he seems eminently more gettable than the Spaniard, which in turn could lead to a smoother transition from Ange and a better start to next season.
Silva vs Iraola 24/25
Manager
Games (All Comps)
Wins
Draws
Losses
Points per Game
All Stats via Transfermarkt
The second reason is that, despite all the deserved attention the Bournemouth boss has received this season, the Lisboa-born gaffer is actually having a better campaign.
For example, across all competitions this term, the former Rayo Vallecano boss has won 15 games, drawn eight, lost ten and averaged 1.61 points per game, while the former Everton manager has won 16, drawn nine, lost nine and averaged 1.68 points per game.
Finally, while both managers are incredibly exciting and doing exceptionally well with their respective sides at the moment, the "special" Silva, as dubbed by journalist Jack Kelly, has far more experience working in English football, managing Hull City, Watford and Everton before taking the job in West London.
So, there is inherently less risk in hiring him, which, after a season like this one, is something that'll surely appeal to the powers that be in N17.
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Ultimately, it looks like Postecoglou's time in the Tottenham hot seat is probably coming to an end in the summer, and if Levy and Co want to give the team the best chance of moving forward next season, they should look to bring in the man who has made Fulham a scary proposition.
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