Igor Tudor is set to leave Tottenham in the coming hours with the club already identifying their "top target" to replace the Croatian.
David Howells backs Tottenham to stay up
Former Tottenham midfielder David Howells believes his old team can stay in the Premier League .Spurs slipped towards a first relegation in 49 years after Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest left them 17th and only one point above the bottom three.
Howells was involved in Tottenham’s last two battles to stay in the top flight during the 1990s and, after key personnel stepped up on both occasions, the 58-year-old hopes history can repeat itself with players due to return in April.
“It was a tough (1993-94) season injury-wise and a struggle to pick up enough points to be safe, but a bit like maybe what is going to happen now, people did start to drift back,” Howells said.
“Teddy (Sheringham) was a massive player and Darren Anderton also, so to see them sitting with you again was important.
“That (1997-98 season) was more of the players getting together and saying, ‘Not this club, not with these players, it can’t happen’.
“It can only come from the players. We will scream our heads off in the stadium, but it has to come from them.
“To not have Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison in the changing room all season has been a massive reason for where we are, but I do think Tottenham have the characters to stay up.
“I don’t know if those two will play again this season, hopefully they do, but looking around the rest of the group, I think there is enough character, talent and hopefully belief to do it.”
If the Lilywhites are to stay up however, it seems it will not be with Tudor at the helm.
Spurs want to bring Roberto De Zerbi in immediately
Igor Tudor is set to leave Tottenham imminently, with Roberto De Zerbi "the top target" to replace the 47 year-old, reports Pete O'Rourke.
"Igor Tudor is set to leave Tottenham in the next 24/48 hours. Roberto De Zerbi is the top target to come in if he can be convinced to take the job now rather than at the end of the season."
The former Brighton boss has just left Marseille following their elimination from the Champions League group phase after a 3–0 away defeat to Club Brugge.
The Italian is said to be open to joining Spurs in the summer, but his willingness to join so suddenly after leaving the French club is unclear.
One thing is for sure, De Zerbi already has plenty of admirers in England, including Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who labelled him "one of the best coaches in the world".