Spurs 'escalate talks' with Igor Tudor replacement after Atletico embarrassment

Igor Tudor is on the brink of being sacked by Tottenham Hotspur following a disastrous 25-day reign as interim manager, with a club legend being lined up as a 'preferred' replacement.

A damning 5-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night could well have been the final nail in the coffin for Tudor.

The 47-year-old Croatian, who was drafted in as interim manager until the end of the season to replace Thomas Frank, has endured a nightmare start to life at the North London club, falling to four consecutive defeats.

Away from being humiliated in the Champions League and Tottenham currently sit just one point above the Premier League relegation zone with nine games to play.

So, what next for Spurs? A report from TEAMtalk on Tuesday night suggests Tudor is 'expected to be sacked' after the defeat to Atletico, with former striker Robbie Keane being lined up as a 'preferred' option.

Igor Tudor is on the brink of being sacked. Image credit: Getty

The report, which claims talks have now 'escalated' for a replacement, also includes comments from journalist Graeme Bailey, who claims Tottenham's hierarchy are "now in talks" having previously decided that Tudor would get until after the Atletico second leg on March 18.

It appears they may be forced to reconsider their approach.

“As it stands the club are continuing to do work, as they have been for more than a week, on options to replace Igor Tudor," he added. "The hierarchy are aware that the squad have not reacted to Tudor as they hoped.

“Robbie Keane has been spoken to, but he is also a top target for Crystal Palace and has been linked to Celtic, heading into the summer."

Bailey goes on to suggest that Keane is "very much a preferred option.”

Robbie Keane backed to land Tottenham job

Keane, who made over 300 appearances for Spurs as a player, is among the favourites to secure the managerial post in North London after enjoying success at Hungarian side Ferencvaros.

Ferencvaros manager Robbie Keane pictured during the Europa League clash against Nottingham Forest. Image credit: Getty

Glenn Hoddle, another club legend, has talked up the idea of teaming up with Keane, believing it would be a "shrewd" move.

"Robbie’s doing great as a young manager," he said on the 'Could It Be Magic' podcast. "So to have a steady springboard and someone experienced like myself that would be a good formula, in many ways.

"I think it’d be a shrewd move to have somebody, whether it was me or somebody experienced with him. Because the question would be: Is Rob ready to go into that sort of job now?

"Although in saying that, I went into my first management job at 30. What was I, 34? Yeah, 34. So I was very, very young. So you have to take that leap at some stage and you sort of learn on the job."

Hoddle added: "But if you can learn on the job and have some experience around you, looking back, I could have done with that a hell of a lot."