Tottenham Preparing Eight-Man Managerial Shortlist as Tudor's Tenure Crumbles

The writing is on the wall for Igor Tudor at Spurs. Having lost all four games since his arrival, the Tottenham manager faces the axe sooner rather than later, with the club already sounding out potential successors.

Initially, Tudor was afforded a reprieve until the March international break to steady the ship. That timeline evaporated following Wednesday's humiliating 5-2 collapse against Atletico Madrid. The manner of that defeat has convinced the board that action cannot wait.

On Friday night, David Ornstein reported that Tottenham are actively working on options to replace their beleaguered boss. A loss to Liverpool on Sunday afternoon could well trigger the trigger, with the Reds visit followed by the home leg against Atletico and a crucial relegation battle with Nottingham Forest before the next international window.

Paul Merson offered his two pence on the timing question. "I am and I'm not," he said on Sky Sports. "I am because of the results and I'm not because it's Liverpool away. I don't know what manager would want to come in for that game. There are timings – I think they will wait until this game is over and it gives them another week then before the big game."

The pundit went further still, suggesting that Arne Slot could find himself in the Tottenham hot seat if his Liverpool revival continues to falter. "He will have to get in the top four, I would have thought, otherwise he'd be the Tottenham manager," Merson claimed. "If he won the FA Cup but didn't finish in Champions League positions it wouldn't make any difference at all. I think Liverpool have got to get in the Champions League with the financial fair play rule. The more you get into the Champions League, the better quality player you can bring in."

Realistically, Slot would only become a viable target in the summer, and only if Spurs avoid the drop.

According to talkSPORT, Tottenham are considering eight candidates to fill the vacancy. Crucially, Tudor has already been informed of the club's search. "One of the reasons for transparency is to try and bring forward the search for a permanent boss," a source explained. "The club are aware this is difficult but has not been ruled out."

The clock is ticking for the north London outfit, and Tudor's time appears to be running out.