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There is uncertainty over Ange Postecoglou’s future, but Spurs could snatch an unlikely Champions League place by winning the Europa League - Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Tottenham Hotspur have been forced to put transfer plans for this summer on hold amid the double uncertainty over head coach Ange Postecoglou and whether the club will be competing in Europe next season.
Postecoglou’s team cannot qualify for Europe through the Premier League, but could still snatch an unlikely Champions League place by winning the Europa League.
Spurs, who travel to Wolves on Sunday, will need to win the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany next week to keep that hope alive.
Postecoglou is likely to be sacked if Spurs miss out on Europe and could leave the club even if he does deliver Tottenham’s first trophy since 2008 and qualify for the Champions League.
That double uncertainty and the size of the swing in Tottenham’s potential fortunes is, according to well-placed sources, making it virtually impossible for the club to make concrete transfer plans for the summer.
One source told Telegraph Sport: “Tottenham, more than any other club, are in an impossible situation in terms of planning for next season. They cannot make definitive plans on transfer targets or existing players while they don’t know if they will be in Europe or if the head coach will still be in charge.”
Tottenham are not the only club who cannot be certain whether they will play in the Champions League next season, with the top-five race in the Premier League currently involving a number of clubs.
Qualifying for the Champions League will have a big impact on transfer budgets. But most of those clubs can be confident of qualifying for some sort of European competition and the likes of Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, Newcastle United and Aston Villa have no doubts over their managers.
Manchester United face a similar scenario to Spurs, but they do not have the same uncertainty over head coach Ruben Amorim – leaving Tottenham as the club with the biggest potential change in circumstances in the Premier League.
Agents have already opened discussions with clubs over players who are likely to attract widespread Premier League interest this summer, with clubs like Chelsea hoping to do their business early.
But players, such as Southampton’s teenage star Tyler Dibling, cannot be sure if Tottenham will be playing in Europe or whether Postecoglou will be the head coach.
The source added: “All managers have defined styles of football and players they are attracted to, none more so than Postecoglou. But that style could completely change if he goes. It’s all a bit of a mess and nobody can really get any answers.”
The uncertainty around Tottenham also impacts decisions over the current squad, with sources believing defender Cristian Romero could leave if the team fail to qualify for Europe and that the size of the first-team squad may potentially need to be cut if they are only competing domestically next season.
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It is believed defender Cristian Romero could leave Tottenham if the team fail to qualify for Europe - Julian Finney/Getty Images
A decision is yet to be made over whether to take up the option to sign on-loan Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel permanently at the end of the season.
It is not just Postecoglou whose job is under pressure, as the shock arrival of former Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has placed a question mark over the long-term future of chief football officer Scott Munn.
Some sources believe Munn will go if Postecoglou leaves, potentially causing even more uncertainty and upheaval at Tottenham this summer, following a disastrous league campaign.
Tottenham’s appointment of Venkatesham has shocked a number of figures at rival clubs, who are surprised Spurs would hire an ex-Arsenal chief in such a prominent role and with the timing of the announcement.
His arrival is not expected to see Daniel Levy, the club’s chairman, give up any control. In fact, the appointment of Venkatesham is being seen inside the game as a move to strengthen his position amid heavy fan criticism.
Postecoglou added to some of the chaos around Tottenham on Friday by revealing that he has been trying to uncover the identity of a leak he believes exists in the club.
The Australian believes that sensitive information around injuries and team news has been leaked by a Spurs insider, but has discounted players and agents among the suspects.
Telegraph Sport understands that key terms and language used in internal meetings over injuries and selection has been repeated in some outside reporting, which has narrowed down the search for the leak.
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