Bayern open managerial talks with Julian Nagelsmann

We’re all in a crap mood so I’ll make this one quick — any chance fans might have had about Julian Nagelsmann somehow deciding to come be the next manager at Tottenham Hotspur is almost certainly quashed. Today, Miguel Delaney at the Independent is reporting that Bayern Munich have opened talks with Nagelsmann with an eye towards making him their next manager after Hansi Flick leaves for the Germany job post-EUROs.

There was a Lloyd Christmas chance that Nagelsmann might have considered bolting for London and the Premier League because IDK reasons, but it appears now that, at least according to Delaney, the previously reported interest in Spurs was mostly just to shake the bushes and see what other job interest emerged.

The highly-rated 33-year-old – who is perhaps the most sought-after coach in world football – had been Daniel Levy’s top target to replace Jose Mourinho. While it is understood that Nagelsmann has in the past indicated a willingness to go to Spurs, sources on the German side maintain this was primarily to flush other suitors out. His own target has long been to manage Bayern Munich, the Bundesliga’s prime job.

Nagelsmann has reportedly told Leipzig he wants to leave, but it will take a fee of €15m to sign him. The east German club, who are part of the Red Bull empire, are resigned to losing him.

Love too be Europe’s stalking horse club, amirite? Yeah, fine, whatever Julian, we didn’t want you anyway and you have bad fashion sense. And you smell. No YOU’RE crying.

So it sucks that Julian’s not coming, but now’s when it starts to get really interesting if you’re Tottenham. Because at present there’s no real second choice candidate that’s emerged as a clear front runner, and that’s going to make things kinda fun until the end of the season. Brendan Rodgers? Graham Potter? Max Allegri? Roberto Martinez? Erik Ten Hag? All are reportedly on the shortlist. Nobody knows what Daniel Levy will do.

And don’t worry, we’ll be writing about all of them (and more) in the coming days and weeks.