A new name has emerged in Tottenham Hotspur's managerial search this week...

What's the word?

According to Sunday Times and Daily Record journalist Duncan Castles, Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui is being considered for the vacant role.

Speaking on a recent episode of 'The Transfer Window' podcast, he said: "I hear that there is an additional candidate that they’re working on in the shape of Julen Lopetegui, who could be a solution for them if they can’t get one of their earlier choices.

"Lopetegui is liked by Tottenham and is likely to be recommended to them by Paratici, he certainly has a good track record of work at Sevilla, winning the Europa League in 2020, and finishing third and fourth, getting them into the Champions League two years running."

Paulo Fonseca is widely believed to be the front-runner for the gig after Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealed that the two parties were in 'advanced talks' over a potential three-year contract, but this news is certainly an intriguing twist.

Better than Fonseca?

Since this claim, reports in Spain have fueled the fire even further, with Estadio Deportivo likening the situation to that of Juande Ramos back in 2007, when he replaced Martin Jol in controversial circumstances. They claim that he is not their first option but he is among those being considered, and many around north London believe he could be a very good candidate.

For example, one supporter claimed the Spaniard was who they should be going for over the "Portuguese version of Roberto Martinez", whilst another suggested that Lopetegui would be a great manager instead of the "defensively average" Fonseca.

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Those are merely a couple of responses in reaction to reports linking the club with the Sevilla boss, and even though it's a small sample size, it highlights the overriding consensus that the former Roma man is probably not the right appointment.

During his time in Italy, the 48-year-old has failed to build on his previous success elsewhere, failing to steer Roma any higher than a fifth-place finish in the Serie A, whilst his side were embarrassed by Manchester United across two legs in the Europa League semi-finals in recent weeks. They leaked eight goals in total in that tie, which would reinforce the views of some in N17 right now.

Meanwhile, Lopetegui won that very competition at the end of the 2019/20 season, defeating Antonio Conte's Inter Milan - another name heavily mooted with the Spurs job in recent weeks.

If the 54-year-old former Spain and Real Madrid manager is genuinely being considered, that should give plenty of fans a little more hope as Tottenham's managerial saga rumbles on.

It's not too late for Daniel Levy to gauge the reaction here and opt for Lopetegui instead of Fonseca.

AND in other news, Paratici could appoint Spurs' own Unai Emery in "exceptional" 48 y/o who blew Pep away...