Roberto De Zerbi keen on Tottenham Hotspur head coach role, but only if they avoid Premier League relegation – Paper Round

Tuesday’s Paper Round leads on Tottenham Hotspur, with the club already having held talks with Roberto De Zerbi in the hope the ex-Brighton and Marseille boss will take charge of the club. Elsewhere, Eddie Howe’s job at Newcastle United is not in danger, while Jadon Sancho’s prospects of moving to Borussia Dortmund in the summer have not been impacted by a change of sporting director.

Roberto De Zerbi is open to taking the permanent Tottenham Hotspur head coach role but only if the club remain in the Premier League, the Telegraph reports.

Igor Tudor’s future as interim head coach remains unclear after Spurs lost to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday, but the club will prioritise supporting the Croatian after his father passed away.

The Telegraph adds: ”Whatever happens with Tudor between now and the end of the season, there is no prospect of him earning the permanent Spurs job. De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino are the favourites for the long-term post, with Tottenham keen to appoint a new man with experience of European football and the demands that places on the head coach – even though the club will not be in Europe next season.

”De Zerbi could yet emerge as a contender for the Manchester United and Liverpool jobs, if Arne Slot leaves Anfield, but the Italian is believed to be open to taking over at Spurs if the club can secure Premier League status for next season.

”His front-foot style of attacking football would be popular with Tottenham supporters, many of whom would like Pochettino to return. The Argentine is committed to the United States national team until the end of this summer’s World Cup.”

Howe safe at Newcastle

Eddie Howe’s job at Newcastle United is ”safe”, according to The i Paper, despite the loss to rivals Sunderland on Sunday following their UEFA Champions League exit.

Newcastle are 12th in the Premier League table heading into the international break, but for now the club are focusing on a summer rebuild under Howe as opposed to searching for a new manager.

The i Paper adds: ”Newcastle are preparing for up to five or six players who are part of the first-team group to depart this summer.

”Out-of-contract veterans Fabian Schar and Kieran Trippier are set to leave while Aaron Ramsdale will not be signed on a permanent basis. Joe Willock, who did not impress as a substitute on Sunday, is also available.

”In addition to that the future of several crown jewels is also uncertain, with Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali linked with moves away.

”England international Tino Livramento, who has struggled since returning from injury, also has admirers.

"Newcastle intend to be front foot on those questions and have apparently learned from their reactive stance on Alexander Isak.”

Dortmund change won’t impact Sancho move

Borussia Dortmund will still plan to sign Jadon Sancho in the summer despite a change of sporting director, the Mirror reports.

Sancho is currently on loan at Aston Villa from Manchester United, and he is widely expected to leave Old Trafford for good in the summer transfer window, with a third stint at Dortmund possible.

The Mirror adds: ”The winds of change are already sweeping through Dortmund ahead of the next transfer window, with their highly rated sporting director, Sebastian Kehl, leaving his post.

”He departs the German giants with immediate effect and they have wasted no time in sourcing a replacement, announcing that Ole Book has agreed to fill the void left by Kehl's exit.

”Such a significant change behind the scenes is likely to alter plans when it comes to the transfer window. But in Sancho's case, he could be unaffected.

”That's because a move to re-sign the Aston Villa loanee has already been given the green light by Nico Kovac, Dortmund's head coach.”

- - -

Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and HBO Max.