Tottenham reportedly make decision on manager Antonio Conte

English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur have apparently made a decision regarding manager Antonio Conte. 

Football news correspondent Matt Law of The Telegraph reported Monday evening local time that Tottenham "are expected to agree Conte’s departure from the club this week." London sports radio station TalkSport later said that Tottenham are believed to officially announce Conte's exit "later this week." 

Law added that assistant Ryan Mason will "most likely be put in temporary charge" during the ongoing international break. Tottenham next play at Everton in a Premier League clash on April 3.

Conte is out of contract following this season and most recently generated headlines when he blasted Tottenham players after the fourth-place club squandered a 3-1 lead and ultimately played to a 3-3 draw against last-place Southampton this past Saturday. 

"Another time we showed that we are not a team, we are 11 players that go into the pitch, and I see selfish players, I see players that don't want to help each other, don't put the heart," a furious Conte said after that result, per ESPN. "We are professionals, the club paid us a lot of money, the players receive money, me I receive money, do you understand? And not to find excuses, and not to have no spirit and show no sense of belonging, or sense of responsibility. Because we are showing this, and for me this is unacceptable. This is the first time in my career that I see a situation like this. And until now I wasn't able to change, and compared to last season the situation went to become worse."

Conte took charge at Tottenham in Nov. 2021 and helped the club secure UEFA Champions League football for the 2022-23 season. However, he's endured multiple personal and professional hardships throughout the ongoing campaign. Three close friends of his have died since October, and it was learned on Feb. 1 that he was temporarily stepping away from his duties because he needed surgery to remove his gallbladder.

It was thought last month that Conte could remain in Italy, where his wife and their daughter have continued to live during his Tottenham tenure, through the rest of this season to recover from his physical setback. Law wrote that Conte returned to Italy after this weekend to spend a portion of the international break with his family. 

Assuming multiple stories are accurate, it seems Conte won't have any reason to return to North London this spring. 

While Tottenham are still in fourth and possess a Champions League spot for next season, they are on 49 points after having completed 28 games. Newcastle United are fifth with 47 points, and Liverpool are sixth with 42 points. Both clubs have two games in hand on Tottenham.