Tottenham rejected by Niko Kovac amid search for Conte’s successor | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur enquired about the availability of VfL Wolfsburg manager Niko Kovac over their vacant managerial role as they continue the search for Antonio Conte’s successor.

However, according to German outlet AZ/WAZ, negotiations never commenced, with the 51-year-old swiftly rejecting their approach in favour of remaining at his current club.

The Croatian only joined Die Wolfe at the start of last season after leaving his role at AS Monaco and has no interest in ditching the Germans for the Lilywhites.

Kovac took the job after Wolfsburg had finished an underwhelming season in the bottom half of the table under former manager Florian Kohfeldt.

Having turned the club’s fortunes around since his arrival, Kovac is focused on leading his side to a European finish this term.

They sit in seventh place in the Bundesliga table, two points off former club Eintracht Frankfurt, who occupy the Europa Conference League spot.

Wolfsburg are not far off from the Champions League places either, with eight points separating them from fourth-placed SC Freiburg.

Kovac was a target for Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy who commissioned his advisors to explore whether the former Bayern Munich manager would be interested in taking the vacant role.

However, the Spurs chief did not have to wait too long for an answer, with Kovac slamming the door shut on a potential move to uphold his commitment to Wolfsburg.

Tottenham have appointed Conte’s assistant Cristian Stellini as interim manager until they find a permanent successor to the 53-year-old tactician, who was sacked two days ago.

They are not short on options, with former manager Mauricio Pochettino publicly opening the door to a sensational Spurs return.

Julian Nagelsmann is also available following his dismissal from Bayern, while former Spain manager Luis Enrique is also without a job after stepping down from his role following last year’s World Cup disappointment in Qatar.

Former Real Madrid manager and Paris Saint-Germain target Zinedine Zidane is the latest manager to be shortlisted for the vacant role.