Conor Gallagher could kickstart his Tottenham career under the management of Roberto De Zerbi.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, as De Zerbi prepares for his first game in charge of Spurs this weekend.
The Italian became Spurs’ third manager of the season during the international break, and has the task of keeping the north London side in the Premier League.
Many of Spurs’ star players have underperformed this season, including January addition Gallagher, with the club set to rebuild their squad in the summer transfer window.
Spurs sit a point above the Premier League relegation zone, with De Zerbi beginning his tenure with a trip to mid-table Sunderland.
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Roberto De Zerbi ‘has got to hit the ground running’ at Tottenham
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – states that De Zerbi does not have time to implement his playing style at Spurs.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness though thinks Gallagher could benefit from De Zerbi’s style of play.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It seemed the strikers really benefited from him [Roberto De Zerbi] really well at Brighton.
“I’m looking at Randal Kolo Muani, Mathys Tel, and Xavi Simons to a degree. There are some players that will benefit from his style and his belief in the way he’s going to motivate, because he can motivate groups together.
“It just took a little while for people to understand him and what he was trying to get to at Brighton. And this time he hasn’t got that luxury of time. He knows himself, he’s got to hit the ground running. And that’s the difference.
“But those are the type of players that I think will benefit from his style of management. It’s going to be more the forward-looking players, possibly Gallagher in midfield, who will like his combative style. There are some things that can work positively.
“For Spurs, they better hope it is going to be a positive rather than ending in division in the dressing room. He knows what he’s up against here. He’s got to get everybody united and fighting together.”
Tottenham make clear transfer stance ahead of summer window
Wyness also told Football Insider that Spurs’ ownership would back De Zerbi in the summer transfer window, as the club do not wish to go through another relegation battle.
Transfer plans at Spurs are currently on hold due to their precarious situation in the Premier League, and the possibility that they could be playing in the Championship next season.
The club though are likely to be active in the market no matter what division they are in, and players are expected to depart following this disastrous campaign.
Centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven have both been linked with exits, whilst Newcastle have showed interest in striker Dominic Solanke.
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