Conte sent 18-month Tottenham warning before replacing Nuno Espirito Santo

Antonio Conte has been warned it will take longer than his 18-month contract to turn Tottenham back into contenders to challenge for trophies.

Spurs sacked Nuno Espirito Santo on Monday morning after just four months in charge, with the London club ninth in the Premier League table, having won five and lost five of their 10 games.

But with just one win in four in all competitions and the style of play turgid, Spurs took the decision to relieve former Wolves boss Nuno of his duties after just 17 matches of his reign.

Former Inter Milan and Chelsea boss Conte is the favourite to take over, which marks a U-turn from Spurs chief Daniel Levy having decided against appointing the Italian in the summer.

Is Antonio Conte the right man to replace Nuno Espirito Santo at Spurs? Comment below.

Antonio Conte has been warned about the size of the job he is facing at Tottenham

Conte has had remarkable success at each club he has taken over, leading Juventus to three successive Serie A titles, Chelsea to the Premier League in his first season and Inter to the Scudetto.

He has a reputation for delivering results and major trophies quickly, but former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes he will struggle to replicate that success with Tottenham.

He is set to be handed an 18-month contract by Spurs, but Carragher believes it will take longer than that deal begin challenging for trophies.

"I think a manager is going to need more than 18 months to turn Tottenham around," Carragher told Sky Sports' Monday Night Football.

"Even though I am a huge admirer of Antonio Conte and the success he had with Chelsea and every club he has been to I think it would be very difficult to replicate that success in 18 months.

"I think he could need another 18 months on top of that to maybe get Tottenham back, maybe challenging. When I say 'get Tottenham back', maybe back to where they were under Pochettino.

"Where they felt they had a chance of winning trophies and pushing people for the title, Champions League year in, year out.

"I think there is a lot of work to be done so, do I think Conte can turn that around in 18 months? I think it will be difficult for a man of his calibre."

Jamie Carragher believes it will take longer than Conte's 18-month contract to turn things around at Spurs ( Image:

Sky Sports)

Though they are languishing in midtable, with only Norwich having scored less goals than them, Carragher does believe there are some positive signs for Conte.

The Liverpool icon insisted that despite the mixed results this season, the squad that Conte would have at his disposal is capable of finishing in the top four.

"I think this squad is capable of challenging for the Champions League positions and they are not a million miles away from that right now," he added.

"Tottenham as a club should always aspire to be in that position.

Did Tottenham make the right decision to sack Nuno Espirito Santo? Have your say below!

"I think Antonio Conte, if he took that job, maybe not this season but certainly in the future you will be looking at them and thinking 'oh yeah they can certainly make the Champions League'.

"Because he can make a huge difference as he has shown throughout his career."