Tottenham Hotspur moved swiftly to appoint Roberto De Zerbi following Igor Tudor's departure, but the Italian isn't the only manager they went after.
De Zerbi set to travel to Sunderland in first game as Spurs boss
De Zerbi has just seven games to save Tottenham's season, with his side lingering dangerously close to the Premier League relegation zone, but there are some question marks over whether he is the right man for the job.
Neal Maupay, who played under the 46-year-old at Brighton, was full of praise for his former manager, but suggested Spurs' players may not be able to adapt to his style of play right from the off.
Maupay said: “The only thing for me — there are 7 or 8 games to go and what he wants to do takes time, you know, for the players to get used to it. So that would be interesting I guess. But if they can stay up, for me it’s a fantastic signing for Tottenham.”
De Zerbi will take charge for the first time against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light next weekend, following which some tough fixtures are on the horizon, with the Lilywhites still needing to travel to Villa Park and Stamford Bridge.
It remains to be seen whether the ex-Brighton boss is the right man for the job, and it has now been revealed he wasn't the only option Spurs considered, with ENIC making a move for a Premier League manager before settling for De Zerbi.
Tottenham held talks to appoint Fulham manager Marco Silva
Speaking on YouTube, Alasdair Gold shared what he knows about Tottenham's search for a new manager, saying: "Spurs definitely explored the possibility of getting another employed manager out of their club on a permanent deal, and that was Marco Silva.
"So they were looking at other potentials you know, and bearing in mind, I guess there's a way of looking at that, why would you try to get Marco Silva out on a permanent deal? I think it was all through intermediaries at that point. I don't think it ever got to a club-to-club thing, and I think Fulham very clearly would've said no at that point as well because I think they want to try and keep Marco Silva for a longer term."
The Portuguese manager perhaps could've been a solid appointment, having done a stellar job at Craven Cottage, leading Fulham to the Premier League and stabilising them in the top flight.
However, De Zerbi certainly has the credentials, having received particularly high praise from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, and Spurs desperately need the former Marseille boss to make an instant impact.