Redknapp hopes Conte will not use Spurs to 'force United's hand' after Nuno sacking

Jamie Redknapp believes Antonio Conte would be a "brilliant" appointment for Tottenham, but hopes the Italian will not use their interest to prompt Manchester United into action.

Tottenham sacked Nuno Espirito Santo on Monday, his reign ending four months into a two-year contract he signed to take over as head coach following four successful years in charge of Wolves.

A 3-0 home defeat to United, where home fans had expressed their frustration, proved to be Nuno's final game at the helm.

Spurs have reportedly offered former Inter and Chelsea boss Conte, who they had previously pursued unsuccessfully before hiring Nuno, an 18-month contract.

Ex-Spurs midfielder Redknapp is convinced Conte is of the required quality for Spurs but hopes his possible appointment will not spur United into action.

Conte has also been linked with a move to Old Trafford, where incumbent Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was under huge pressure going into the Spurs victory.

"Conte would be a brilliant signing for them," Redknapp said to Sky Sports.

"I’m sure a lot of Tottenham fans would be delighted with Conte – he is a first-class manager and a serial winner, he did an incredible job with Chelsea and Inter Milan, so he knows the game inside out. 

"Spurs need to be careful Conte does not play them off with Manchester United and maybe force United's hand, so it will be an interesting few days."

He added: "I do not understand why after four months you could get him, but you could not four months ago.

"There was a problem with the transfer budget and he could not agree with what Daniel Levy wanted to do with the club.

"When you have a manager like Conte, you have to give him the licence to get the players in that he wants and to play the system he wants, you can't interfere, he does things his way.

"He has worked with Tottenham's director of football [Fabio Paratici] before at Juventus, so that is important as that has to work. They have to pull in the same direction, otherwise it can be a disaster.

"Right now, on the field Tottenham are the laughing stock of football, off field they are the envy of everyone because of the stadium and the training ground, but they are making a lot of mistakes in that boardroom."

Nuno's 10 Premier League games at the helm is the lowest tally of any permanent Tottenham manager.

Redknapp has sympathy for the Portuguese boss, adding: "Four months – what chance have you got to build a squad, or a team? 

"I get the frustration at the weekend of the Tottenham fans and their right to voice their opinions, but this has been going on for a while now.

"Mauricio Pochettino found it hard to get a tune out of this team, Jose Mourinho has and now Nuno has found it difficult.

"It is a talented squad, but there is something missing there and from Nuno's point of view, he inherited the Harry Kane situation, which is really difficult for any manager.

"You have your star player wants to leave and does not want to be at the club and you have to somehow deal with that.

"That is hard trying to bring a squad together and can cause an enormous amount of problems.

"Nothing surprises me at Tottenham, Levy does not mess around and I'm sure he knows he needs to get this next one right."

Tottenham are at home to Vitesse in the Europa Conference League on Thursday before they face Everton in the Premier League at Goodison Park on Sunday.