FC Basel have denied speculation suggesting Tottenham have asked to speak to their manager, Murat Yakin, about replacing Andre Villas-Boas, according to Team Talk. Villas-Boas was sacked by Spurs earlier this week following his side's disastrous 5-0 defeat to Liverpool, a result that leaves them eight points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal. And reports in Switzerland suggested Tottenham had made enquiries into Yakin's potential availability, with some going as far as to claim his agent was due in London for talks. Yakin has impressed since taking over at Basel last year, guiding them to the domestic title while also knocking Spurs out of the Europa League. However, Basel insist there has been no contact between the two clubs regarding Yakin, sentiments which were echoed by the 39-year-old manager - who has also been linked with Lazio - who said:
"I am enjoying my holidays. I have had no contact with Lazio or Tottenham."
Tim Sherwood has been put in charge on a caretaker basis until a permanent replacement for Villas-Boas is sought, with Glenn Hoddle one of the early favourites for the job. And Sherwood is looking to make an immediate impact in his new role, starting tonight when West Ham visit White Hart Lane in the Capital One Cup quarter-final. Sherwood told Spurs TV:
"When you lose your manager, it's a change and you've got to listen to a different voice, but I'm hoping to get a few messages across in a short space of time so we can get a positive result against West Ham. "It's a huge game, especially on the back of what they did to us at the Lane. It was disappointing. "We have to get out there on the front foot and we have to impose ourselves on them as soon as we can during the game."
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
