Just when you thought the end was in sight, Tottenham Hotspur's search for a new head coach has taken yet another dramatic twist.
After sacking Jose Mourinho almost 60 days ago, Spurs, who discovered yesterday that they will face Manchester City on the opening day of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, finally looked set to install former Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk boss Paulo Fonseca as their new head coach.
However, talks between Spurs and the Portuguese boss have now sensationally broken down, just when it seemed that the club were on the cusp of ending their search, having failed in their attempts to appoint the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Erik ten Hag, Antonio Conte and Mauricio Pochettino.
What is even more remarkable, the latest name to be thrust into the equation is former AC Milan and Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, who is now the leading candidate to be appointed the club's new boss.
Gattuso has just become available after leaving his post at Fiorentina after just 23 days in charge.
But despite leaving the Italian club today, he could now make an immediate return to the dugout with Spurs. It is understood by football.london that Tottenham were planning to go with Fonseca, but Gattuso's sudden availability has led them to change their mind at the very last moment, ditching Fonseca in the process.
Although Gattuso has been in management since 2013, the reaction amongst Spurs' supporters has not been of a positive nature, with many left baffled by the club's decision to consider opting for the 43-year-old to take over the reins in north London.
Below, football.london has taken a close look at how some Spurs fans have reacted on social media to the latest developments and the prospect of Gattuso taking over from Mourinho.
As you can see from the sample of messages above, the prospect of Gattuso taking charge has not been particularly well received, with one supporter admitting that he would prefer Mourinho to return.
In fairness to Gattuso, he has built up plenty of managerial experience in recent years, taking the reins at some of Italy's biggest clubs, including AC Milan and Napoli.
However, his exit from Fiorentina after just over three weeks is bound to raise concerns, with it being reported that he left the club over a row over transfer policy
Should negotiations this time go to plan, the Italian could be the man manning the touchline come the opening weekend of the Premier League campaign.
