Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte could leave at the end of the season with the feeling inside Hotspur Way taking a blow over recent weeks regarding a contract extension.

What's the latest?

There have been strong reports suggesting the time could be coming to an end in Conte's stint as the Spurs manager with the Italian potentially looking to end his deal in the summer.

This has been suggested by the reliable Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio who has claimed the 53-year-old could return to Italy to spend time with his family.

It is believed the two parties were set to hold talks over a potential contract extension during the earlier stages of the season with positive expectations around the club.

However, speaking on his Ranks FC Patreon show, insider Dean Jones has suggested this is no longer the case with the feeling around Tottenham taking a much bleaker turn:

(9:20) "I'm not hearing great signs of this being extended. That's one thing I would say. During the World Cup, I've got two/three very good contacts that know a lot about Tottenham and what's going on.

"And during the World Cup, they were pretty adamant that there was going to be these negotiations that were more likely than not to lead to Conte signing extension as we launch into the second phase of the season.

"And that hasn't happened and those same people are definitely not as positive about that now. They still don't write it off because this is mad Tottenham but yeah, I'm not sure I see that happening anymore."

Inevitable departure?

This will certainly not be what a lot of Tottenham fans will be wanting to hear ahead of what is still a big few months of football ahead of them.

Spurs have endured their struggles of late with their defence causing them serious issues in their push for a spot in next season's Champions League.

However, taking a step back and assessing their situation, Spurs still have an awful lot to play for this season.

Perhaps these reports have been used as Conte's method to prise some signings out of the owners by suggesting he will not be carrying on under the current regime.

But it will not have helped the players hearing the reports that their manager may not be committed to the long-term plans at Hotspur Way.

Regardless, Spurs were able to get back to winning ways on Monday night with a hard-fought three points away to the in-form Fulham.

And this has taken Spurs within just three points of the top four as their attention will turn to their FA Cup campaign on the weekend.

There is also the matter of a Champions League round of 16 tie coming up in the next few weeks against AC Milan which could offer Spurs with a great opportunity to progress to the final eight of the competition.

Yet everything feels so doom and gloom around N17 when in reality there is still an awful lot to play for.

Although Jones suggests the optimism over Conte signing a new deal has mellowed recently, perhaps this could pick back up again with a strong end to the campaign.