Tottenham appear to be moving for Igor Tudor's potential replacement, with contact now reportedly established as a title-winning manager becomes keen on the Spurs job.
Tudor facing Tottenham sack as Spurs identify potential heirs
Spurs has been the most chaotic dugout situation in the Premier League this season, bar Nottingham Forest's managerial merry-go-round, and it shows no sign of slowing down.
Tottenham, 17th in the table and one point above the relegation zone, are apparently poised to part ways with interim boss Tudor by mutual consent — a decision reportedly made the moment Morgan Gibbs-White slotted home Forest's second goal in Sunday's dismal 3-0 home defeat.
Tudor hasn't won a single Premier League game since being appointed in February, picking up one point from five attempts.
Tudor himself, dealing with the passing of his father Mario, is understood to be ready to step away.
The club's next game is not until April 12 — Sunderland away — giving the hierarchy a rare window to act without immediate pressure.
The hunt for a replacement is sprawling in several directions at once, and today's developments have only added to the complexity.
Roberto De Zerbi — widely seen as a dream appointment and described by Pep Guardiola as one of the most influential managers of the last 20 years — appears to be ruled out for now.
Sky Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio confirmed today that De Zerbi, who left Marseille in February, has no intention of returning to management before the end of the season.
Fabrizio Romano echoed that assessment on social media this afternoon, confirming the Italian remains the club's preferred candidate from the summer but is not going to Tottenham now.
Both summer targets De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino — the Argentinian currently managing the USA at the World Cup — are off the table until at least June.
In a fresh development today, Romano also confirmed that Fulham boss Marco Silva has been discussed internally at Tottenham.
The Portuguese has won four trophies, led Fulham to the Premier League as Championship winners in 2022 and has kept them established in the top flight ever since.
Whether that conversation progresses into something more concrete remains to be seen.
One man who could be ready to step in right now, though, is Adi Hutter.
According to TEAMtalk this afternoon, formal contact has now been made with Hutter.
The 56-year-old is also understood to be interested in the role, opening the door for Spurs to appoint the free agent as their second interim manager of the season.
German reports this morning claimed no concrete talks had taken place, but TEAMtalk have pushed back on that, with their 'well-placed sources' claiming initial approaches have now been made.
Hutter has been out of management since leaving Monaco last October and brings a serious CV to the table.
The Austrian won the Bundesliga Coach of the Year twice at Eintracht Frankfurt, and has won multiple league titles across spells at Red Bull Salzburg and BSC Young Boys.
He also secured Champions League football at Monaco, so he does have some credentials.
His high-energy, pressing-based approach is considered exactly the kind of medicine Spurs' passive and leaky defence has been crying out for.
Any appointment of Hutter is expected to be short-term — a rescue mission through the final seven games — with a permanent decision earmarked for the summer.
The only major doubt surrounding Hutter is his lack of Premier League experience, which could prove costly as we've seen from Tudor's dismal tenure.