O'Neill is top target for Spurs

Spurs have always wanted to tempt O'Neill back to England, where he began his managerial career with Wycombe Wanderers, but Levy had looked at the success of foreign managers at Arsenal and Chelsea and opted for Trapattoni. Indeed, a deal appeared to have been agreed before the former Inter Milan boss decided against joining the Premiership.

Now O'Neill has only to pick up the telephone and tell Levy he is on his way to be handed the post, a move that would be hugely popular with Tottenham supporters.

O'Neill is a man to relish a challenge and the task at White Hart Lane - to close the widening gap between Spurs and their neighbours at Highbury and Stamford Bridge - is certainly one he would relish.

Indeed, that might present more of a stimulus to the Ulsterman than going to a club like Chelsea, where running the team seems to have become a matter of the coach paying lip service to the dreams of the owner.

There are still compelling temptations for O'Neill to return south. His wife Geraldine spends a lot of time at the couple's home in High Wycombe, which they kept when he moved to Norwich and then Leicester after five years with Wanderers from 1990-95.

Tottenham's tradition is to play the brand of entertaining football that was his trademark as a player with Nottingham Forest and Northern Ireland, while his five years at Leicester demonstrated that he can operate without a huge transfer budget.

Spurs still firmly believe that, although they are not in the same league as Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool when it comes to spending, they do have players at the club with whom O'Neill can work.

The decision would seem to rest with O'Neill, who was busy yesterday securing a new contract for Neil Lennon, who followed him to Scotland from Leicester.

With three games remaining this season, one at home and two away, Spurs seem to have their Premiership place for next season secure but will want to make an appointment before the start of the European Championship in June.

There has been no shortage of people trying to sell themselves to Tottenham, including Jacques Santini, who will coach Robert Pires, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira in this summer's tournament in Portugal, where his France side are favourites.

He is one of several national coaches among the finalists who have indicated, directly or indirectly, that they would be interested in joining Tottenham.

Should Spurs fail to land O'Neill, however, they may look to Alan Curbishley, who has been at Charlton since 1991 and has indicated that he would like to try his hand elsewhere at some stage.

It could be argued that he would hardly be bettering himself by going to White Hart Lane. But the truth is the Spurs job is still considered to be one of the game's most attractive, given the history of the club.