When is the right time for Tottenham to part ways with Jose Mourinho?

When will Spurs part ways with Jose?

First and foremost, Jose was brought to Tottenham to win a trophy, which he has an opportunity to do against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Final, scheduled for April 25. If Spurs defeat City, on paper, and for the uninformed and peripheral observer, it would look like job done for the Portuguese gaffer.

Levy could then sack the manager with both parties living up to their end of the bargain. But let’s make one thing clear: Winning the Carabao Cup will not satisfy or satiate supporters, or Levy for that matter.

Then again, waiting until April 26 to sack Jose could will allow Levy to save face. If Spurs beat City in the final, Mourinho will achieve his main objective of winning a trophy. Although even Jose will admit that will fall way short of club expectations.

With Tottenham struggling to secure one of the all-covet Champions League berths, I can’t see Levy providing Jose the time and funds it will take to turn things around. It would be another high risk move Levy won’t want to involve himself in after witnessing Jose’s first year in charge.

However, firing him immediately doesn’t make financial sense, particularly considering the dire state of the current financial climate. And of course sourcing another elite manager won’t come cheap.

But the longer Levy waits to pull the trigger, the more improbable a top four spot becomes. Jose’s prospective payout isn’t going anywhere. He’s under contract until 2023 so getting rid of him at any point before that will cost the club big. Unfortunately for Spurs, making that payout is inevitable.

And while waiting until the end of the season would allow Mourinho the chance to achieve his obligation of winning a trophy, albeit one of diminished importance, it simply delays the inescapable truth.

Which sees Jose packing his bags and leaving Spurs a year, possibly two, before his contract expires in 2023.