Tottenham target Lazio boss Mancini

TOTTENHAM are interested in bringing Lazio coach Roberto Mancini to White Hart Lane as Glenn Hoddle’s successor.

Mancini's representative Athole Still told BBC Sport yesterday that Mancini was on Tottenham's hit-list, but insisted no talks had taken place.

"I've heard there has been interest but there have been no official discussions and there are many complicatons," Still told this website.

Mancini has four years left on his contract at Lazio. Lazio's sporting director Oreste Cinquini has admitted that Mancini could quit in the summer but that might not be early enough for Spurs who have sunk into the Premiership relegation zone.

"The club at the moment is undergoing a difficult time so we cannot guarantee he will remain next season," said Cinquini.

"But Mancini will remain at Lazio this season. That is certain."

Former Italian international Mancini has limited first-hand experience of English football, having played six games for Peter Taylor's Leicester in early 2001, before being lured back to Italy to take charge of Fiorentina.

Cinquini admitted Mancini could be persuaded to move to a Premiership club, although Lazio would almost certainly seek compensation.

"He loves England and he speaks good English, so he has always said that he wouldn't mind in the future coaching in England," said Cinquini.

"Mancini deserves to go to a big club."

Tottenham sacked manager Glenn Hoddle earlier this season and put director of football David Pleat and first-team coach Chris Hughton in charge until the end of the season.

But pressure on the board to find a replacement is mounting in the wake of the poor run of form which has seen them slip into the bottom three.