Spurs set to capture Trap
Giovanni Trapattoni looks set to become the new Tottenham first-team coach after Euro 2004 this summer.
The Italian national coach will quit his post as soon as the tournament ends to take over at White Hart Lane but the club expect to make the announcement before the end of January, as predicted by Standard Sport last week.
Although Spurs yesterday denied that the 64-year-old had signed a deal worth £1.2million a year to become their new coach, it is now understood that the Italian had further talks with club officials in Italy and verbally agreed to take the job. But the contract is still not signed and there are some minor details still to iron out.
Trapattoni has been preparing for a move to England for some time after taking English lessons and speaking regularly with Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri.
The former Juventus and Bayern Munich coach is expected to step down as Italy boss straight after Euro 2004, although rumours are circulating that the Italian Football Association may decide to ditch him next month and give Gianluca Vialli the task of leading the country into the finals.
Trapattoni watched Tottenham's 4-1 win over Birmingham last week - the day before Standard Sport revealed that he was the club's top target to replace sacked Glenn Hoddle and that negotiations were well advanced.
It is also believed that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has a backup plan involving Trapattoni even if he cannot persuade the Italian to take the job on his own.
The ideal is to bring in a younger man as No2, possibly Mark Hughes or Lazio boss Roberto Mancini, to take over eventually.
But if Trapattoni refuses to come at all, the younger man becomes first choice.
Meanwhile, Spurs have lost their battle to keep Fredi Kanoute for tomorrow's Premiership clash at home to Liverpool.
Acting manager David Pleat had hoped to keep the club's leading scorer for one more game before losing him to Mali for the African Nations Cup, but failed in his bid.
Kanoute made his full international debut yesterday in a 2-0 win over Algeria but was not on target. He could miss up to five games for Spurs while playing in the African Nations Cup, which starts a week tomorrow.
