Desire and Division at Tottenham

Tottenham Hotspur have suffered many embarrassing cup exits over the years. Their Europa League record is a legacy of underachievement. Yet, last night's loss in Zagreb feels different. It follows another humiliation during last weekends North London Derby. Spurs were desperately poor in both games, combining defensive lapses with a distinct lack of attacking edge. Worse still, was the total lack of effort and desire in two of the season's biggest games.

There has been a consistent pattern to big games this year that has persisted despite wild swings in form. The team have a habit of sitting back when in front and only going on the attack when they fall behind. This was a pattern seen in both defeats this week. Mourinho claimed that he wanted a more attacking approach from his players after both matches. Fans are sceptical of this given the manager's past record, but there is undoubtedly a disconnect between the coaching staff and the team.

Most remarkable of all was the reaction of club captain, Hugo Lloris, to yesterday's defeat. He called out some members of the squad for a lack of professionalism. The Frenchman is likely to leave in the summer, but so are many of the players he criticised. Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko are thought to be two of the players he was talking about, along with Dele Ali and Eric Dier. All were regulars last season but have been relegated to the bench this term. Both Winks and Dele were close to leaving in January before having their moves blocked by Daniel Levy. The chairman must surely be regretting that decision now.

End of an Era

More concerning is the future of Harry Kane. Rumours about a move to Manchester have resurfaced, with both United and City interested. In truth, they're probably the only two clubs who could afford the kind of sums that Levy is asking for the team's talisman. Anyone hoping to capture Kane would need to pay in excess of £150m, and possibly in excess of Neymar's £200m world record fee. City are the more likely option here, particularly if they fail to prise Messi from Barcelona or Haaland from Dortmund. Spurs fans would not begrudge Kane if he did sign for the citizens. He's given more than enough over the years. A switch to the Red Devils would be harder to swallow, and is less likely given the lack of silverware endured by United in recent seasons.

Kane's likely replacement is Danny Ings, whose contract with Southampton expires next year. There are rumours on the South Coast that both he and Jannik Vestergaard have already agreed to join Tottenham this summer. The club are also expected to reinforce the midfield during the next transfer window, with Marcel Sabitzer a preferred candidate if he can be tempted away from RB Leipzig.

Next Steps

Sabitzer is not the only Leipzig employee on the club's radar. The in-demand Julian Nagelsmann could well replace Mourinho at the end of the season. Nagelsmann has plenty of options, with Real Madrid and Barcelona supposedly interested in his services too. However, the German has expressed a desire for his next job to be in the Premier League. Brendan Rodgers is another alternative, although there is little reason for him to leave Leicester for a team that is lower down the league table.

Despite the rumours, Mourinho is not certain to be sacked. He still enjoys the support of the senior players, including Kane and Lloris. However, his position is said to be dependent on the slim possibility of achieving a top 4 finish and Champions League qualification. Sacking the manager would be expensive given his enormous salary and the lack of a break clause in his contract, but Levy would not hesitate to pull the trigger if the club's future depended on it. It may even happen sooner if the possibility of Europa League qualification starts to recede.

Pressure

Perhaps the person under the most pressure is Daniel Levy. The chairman put his personal credibility on the line when hiring Mourinho. Everyone recognised it as a gamble at the time. It hasn't worked out. Success has been fleeting, and often accompanied by a style of football that is unpopular among both players and fans. Lloris implied that some of the issues facing the club were structual, and weren't limited to the attitudes of specific players.

That's hardly a new concern. There have been questions over Levy's involvement in footballing matters have been circulating for some time. His approach in the transfer market is not as successful as it was in the past, and his record in managerial appointments is mixed at best. His record in financial matters is excellent, so his position is in no danger, particularly given his status as a minority shareholder. However, Joe Lewis could force him to hand over more responsibility to someone with more footballing knowledge. Trevor Birch's brief stint as Director of Football Operations was a step in this direction. It may be repeated if results don't improve.