Tottenham Hotspur have been in contact with former Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi for 'several' days following Thomas Frank’s sacking, according to reports in France.
The north London side are looking to appoint a new head coach after Frank was relieved of his duties on Wednesday, following a winless run of eight Premier League games.
Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United proved to be Frank’s final game in charge, which saw Spurs drop to 16th in the table, five points clear of the drop zone.
The Spurs hierarchy are believed to be working towards a new appointment, with De Zerbi seen as one of those at the top of the shortlist following his departure from Marseille.
According to French publication MediaFoot, Tottenham have established contact with De Zerbi after his decision to leave Marseille last week, and they are trying to 'seduce' him.
The Italian tactician departed his role as manager of the Ligue 1 side by mutual consent, following a 5-0 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille’s recent exit from the Champions League.
De Zerbi took over at Marseille in the summer of 2024 and led them to second place in Ligue 1 last season. He left the club fourth in the league, trailing leaders PSG by 12 points.
The 'genius' 46-year-old spent two years at Brighton and took the Seagulls to sixth in the Premier League in the 2022/23 season – the club’s highest top-flight finish to date.
According to MediaFoot, Tottenham could be prepared to wait until the summer to appoint a new permanent manager and may opt for an interim solution in the meantime.
Spurs reportedly believe the 'special' De Zerbi would be tempted by a move after the season, although his arrival mid-campaign has not been completely ruled out.
Pochettino Another Favourite to Replace Frank
Mauricio Pochettino is another leading candidate to replace Frank, with the Tottenham hierarchy eyeing the Argentinian manager’s return after the 2026 World Cup.
According to GIVEMESPORT sources, Pochettino still has notable internal support at the club and could be open to a return after the summer tournament, as he remains focused on his coaching role with the United States.
Pochettino spent over five years at Spurs from 2014 to 2019, leading the club to their best-ever Premier League finish of second in the 2016/17 season.
The Lilywhites also reached their first-ever Champions League final under the Argentinian in 2019, where they lost to Liverpool.