Graham Roberts responds to reports Tottenham could pursue Erik Ten Hag

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Erik Ten Hag has reportedly emerged as a contender for the Tottenham Hotspur job amid Julian Nagelsmann supposedly accepting a move to Bayern Munich this summer – but Spurs icon Graham Roberts is not convinced.

Nagelsmann, 33, is expected to complete a move to Bayern this summer after Fabrizio Romano reported on Twitter on Monday evening that the RB Leipzig boss – who has been strongly linked with Spurs – has agreed a Bayern move.

The Telegraph claim Ajax boss Ten Hag has been added to a shortlist that also includes England boss Gareth Southgate, Belgium’s Robert Martinez, Leicester gaffer Brendan Rodgers and German intellect Ralf Rangnick.

Ten Hag has been in charge at Ajax since December 2017 and has won 119 of his 163 matches in charge, winning the Eredivisie in 2018-19 – and probably this season, with Ajax 12 points clear. But Roberts does not think he suits Spurs.

TBR’s view – Ten Hag would be a very good appointment

But Roberts is right. Ajax have the kind of ball-playing stars that allow his side to dominate possession but also play a very attacking, exciting, expansive style of football that sees them play out from their own penalty area.

Tottenham simply do not have that quality. Even if they did, their opponents are stronger than them in the Premier League – something which clearly is not the same position of Ajx in Dutch football.

Nevertheless, Ten Hag has proven himself as a top manager – taking them from a good side, putting his stamp on the club and taking them a level further. Spurs could do a lot worse than Ten Hag, but Roberts makes a fair point.