Spurs told 'be realistic' with manager targets and forget about top appointment

While the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Antonio Conte are being linked with the role, Jamie O'Hara insists the Spurs have to lower their expectations as their search for Jose Mourinho's successor goes on.

With first-choice target Julian Nagelsmann snubbing the Premier League side to become the new Bayern Munich boss, and Erik Ten Hag deciding to extend his contract at Ajax, Tottenham are still on the hunt for their next long-term head coach.

A host of experienced and successful coaches have been linked with the role, including Leicester boss Rodgers, Inter Milan's title-winning manager Conte, Rafael Benitez and Maurizio Sarri.

O'Hara would love Conte to come to White Hart Lane, amid claims the Italian boss could return to the Premier League despite just leading Inter to their first Serie A title for 11 years.

But the former midfielder admits the north London club has to be realistic with their targets, saying appointments like Scott Parker from Fulham or Brighton boss Graham Potter are more likely.

And O'Hara insists both of those managers would be great fits for Tottenham.

"I think if Tottenham got Antonio Conte, they'd be able to keep Harry Kane - he's a brilliant manager," the ex-Spurs man said on talkSPORT's Gameday Countdown.

"He won the Premier League title with Chelsea and yes he got the sack, but that's what Chelsea do. It's their culture. He's gone to Inter Milan and he's won the league there, too. He's a top manager.

"Rafa Benitez is being linked now, but I honestly would rather Scott Parker as manager.

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"He's young, he's hungry, he's got a forward-thinking attacking style and philosophy of how he wants to play, he knows what the club is about and he'll know some of the young players.

"That's the way we need to go. I don't think getting Rafa Benitez… it would only be for his name.

"I think we should be going for Antonio Conte or Brendan Rodgers, but Spurs are living in cuckoo land at the moment… we're pretenders! We haven't won anything!

"We're a top-ten football club in the world, financially, but we haven't actually won anything! How have we pulled that off?!

"So we have to be realistic right now, and I think being realistic is getting a Scott Parker or a Graham Potter and seeing where that takes us.

"Personally, I would like Antonio Conte, but I can't see it happening."