Roberto De Zerbi is in advanced talks about becoming the next Tottenham boss.
Negotiations are still ongoing but there is a hope from Tottenham’s side they will be able to persuade De Zerbi to take the job now. They have set a target of making an appointment in the next few days and are now trying to close in on a deal for De Zerbi. It is not yet done but there is a willingness from both sides.
Former Brighton boss De Zerbi had been reluctant to take the job until the summer even though the Spurs role appeals to him after his exit from Marseille. But Tottenham interim boss Igor Tudor left the club on Sunday by mutual consent after just 44 days in charge.
It was clear Tottenham then had a direction of travel as they wanted to get a manager in this week to give him time to prepare for their next game with Sunderland on April 12. They want someone in by the time the players return from international duty from Wednesday.
Even though they have considered going down the caretaker route with a former player, their first call was to De Zerbi.
It will be a permanent job but he is now open and talking about taking over now.
He has a reputation for shaking things up and is very good tactically and that appeals to Spurs with just seven games left.
Tudor’s reign was a disaster and they now find themselves just a point above the drop zone and they could be in the bottom three by the time of their next game.,
West Ham play Wolves two days before Tottenham go to Sunderland and if the Hammers win then that will drop Spurs into the bottom three.
It would be unthinkable for Spurs to be relegated and it is a risk they cannot afford to take even though the club also wanted to wait until the summer which is why they originally brought in Tudor.
They have yet to win a Premier League game this calendar year and De Zerbi’s first task will be to get them to safety.
De Zerbi has attracted criticism and comment from at least three Spurs’ fans groups because he publicly supported former Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood while in charge at Marseille.