Ruud Gullit believes Louis van Gaal has met with Daniel Levy, and will be appointed Tottenham Hotspur manager during the summer.
A 4-0 drubbing at Liverpool on Sunday afternoon has all but ended Spurs hopes of finishing in the top-four this season, meaning they will again be absent from the UEFA Champions League next term. It has been a troubling campaign for the London club, who lost star player Gareth Bale in August and sacked Andre Villas-Boas in December.
Tim Sherwood has since been in charge and was handed a contract until the end of next season, but it looks increasingly likely that he will not be replaced during the summer. And Gullit believes a deal is already in place for compatriot van Gaal, who is currently coaching the Holland national side but will step down after the World Cup Finals.
Van Gaal has made no secret of his desire to coach in England in recent weeks, and has also strongly hinted that he would be interested in the post at White Hart Lane should, as now seems certain, it becomes available. And speaking to BBC Radio 5, Gullit said: “I know for sure he was at van Gaal’s house, the chairman. I think it’s a done deal.”
Of the world record fee received from the sale of Bale to Real Madrid, much has been squandered on players who have simply failed to live up to expectations. Club record signing Erik Lamela has undoubtedly been the biggest disappointment, having started just three times in the Premier League, whilst Roberto Soldado runs the Argentine a close second having struggled to find the back of the net on a regular basis throughout.
Indeed, only Christian Eriksen, the Denmark international, looks like a good signing having joined from Ajax for a fee of around £11million. The 22-year-old playmaker has scored eight goals and assisted the same number in 29 appearances in all competitions, and he will likely become an integral part of the side next term whoever is in charge.
The drubbing at Anfield, which follows the 5-0 hammering at White Hart Lane in the corresponding fixture which proved to be Villas-Boas’ last, means Spurs are now eight points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal. And whilst there are still six games left to make up this difference, it now seems too big an ask for Sherwood and his players.
