Tottenham reportedly shortlist title-winning manager that Defoe has raved about

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Tottenham have reportedly drawn up a shortlist of potential replacements for Jose Mourinho this summer – and Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is one of those, a gaffer that Jermain Defoe has predicted will go right to the top.

Gerrard has just guided his Rangers side to the Scottish Premiership title, his club’s first in 10 years – simultaneously stopping Celtic in their pursuit of 10 in a row. They remain unbeaten with only six league games to play.

Not only has Gerrard starred domestically this season, but has guided Rangers to the last 16 of the Europa League for a second successive season – despite having a limited budget to spend from. His most expensive signing has been £7million Ryan Kent.

90Min claim that Gerrard is on a seven-strong list of bosses that include Max Allegri, Brendan Rodgers, Julian Nagelsmann, Diego Simeone, Carlo Ancelotti and Nuno Santo. Defoe has recently predicted Gerrard has a big future as a manager.

“He’s going to be a top, top, top manager,” Defoe told TalkSPORT. “He’s got everything. He always says to the players, ‘if you want to come speak to me about anything then my door is open’

“He’s approachable, which is really important as a manager. Sometimes there’s stuff you want to talk about and you might have personal problems and you might have stuff you want to talk about but feel uncomfortable going to the manager.

“But with Steven, you can talk to him about anything. He reminds me a little bit of Harry Redknapp and Sam Allardyce where you can just approach them and speak about anything.”

TBR’s view – Would Gerrard really go to Tottenham?

Even Gerrard has admitted himself that he wants to eventually manage Liverpool, a club where has earned legendary status from his playing days. But the chances of him leaving Rangers soon is unlikely, given the last 12 months.

But given that Tottenham are up and around Liverpool at the moment, and naturally considered as one of the Premier League’s biggest six clubs, surely Spurs are too much a rival of Liverpool’s to join the North London side?

If Gerrard was to join a Premier League club before Liverpool, surely it would be a team slightly lower down in the Premier League – a mid-table side – before moving to Anfield. But realistically, he is probably going to join Liverpool when Klopp departs.