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Each World Cup presents us with a new footballing star. Enzo Fernandez in Qatar. Kylian Mbappe in Russia. James Rodriguez in Brazil. Who will it be in the USA, Canada and Mexico?
Time is running out for the young World Cup hopefuls to convince that they are worth taking a shot on this summer. For many, this international break was their last chance.
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From Real Madrid's next Galactico to Spurs' best performer this season, Sky Sports takes a look at who could be this year's World Cup breakout star. Who will be Next Up?
Lennart Karl
Nation: Germany
Club: Bayern Munich
Age: 18
Position: Attacking midfielder
Germany’s most exciting prospect was given his first chance to shine on the international stage over the international break, after taking senior football by storm with Bayern Munich, and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
Lennart Karl, who only turned 18 in February, missed the phone call from Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann informing him he was being called up to the senior side for the first time because he was in the middle of a tutoring session. His performances belied his years.
The left-footed attacking midfielder came off the bench to make his Germany debut with half an hour to go in a dramatic 4-3 friendly victory over Switzerland before playing the entire second half against Ghana. Naglesmann did not hide his excitement about Karl.
“He made a very strong impression," the Germany boss said. "Bold, but also humble. He’s taken his first small step into the senior national team. At Bayern he’s already taken a few more – but he’s still at the beginning of the race. Of all the young players we’ve called up over time, he’s made the best impression.”
Karl has eight goals and five assists in 35 games for Bayern despite making his first senior appearance in football less than a year ago and now he already has one eye on the World Cup this summer.
“I’m not putting any pressure on myself,” Karl said after initially being called up. “I’ll just play my football and then I hope things work out well and that I’ll be at the World Cup.”
With an innate ability to drift past his opponents with ease, confidence beyond his years and the capability to deliver in front of goal emphatically, Karl has taken every challenge in his stride.
The pressure of starring for one of the biggest clubs in the world has not fazed him yet – expect Karl to deliver when given the chance.
Nico Paz
Nation: Argentina
Club: Como
Age: 21
Position: Attacking midfielder
The next Galactico in the making? Nico Paz, a product of the Real Madrid academy, has flourished since moving to Como and his pathway back to the Bernabeu Stadium could already be paved.
Real Madrid inserted a buy-back clause in his contract at Como that is worth in the region of ÂŁ8m and his progress under the guidance of Cesc Fabregas in Italy has made his return a matter of when, not if.
It is remarkable value for a player that is already an Argentina regular. Given the freedom to roam across forward positions, Paz thrives in open spaces, carrying the ball forward to threaten the goal or create for those around him.
The 21-year-old has 11 goals and six assists for Como this season and, with eight caps for Argentina already, he is primed to go to the World Cup as shown when he scored a terrific free-kick to get off the mark for his country in a 2-1 friendly win over Mauritania last month.
Uncertainty around Lionel Messi's involvement in Argentina's defence potentially opens the door for Paz to accelerate his ascent to leading man. La Albiceleste are sure to be counting on him for years to come.
Endrick
Nation: Brazil
Club: Lyon (on loan from Real Madrid)
Age: 19
Position: Forward
Brazil’s forgotten wonderkid has fought his way back into contention for the 2026 World Cup and is competing with a few Premier League stars for a spot on the plane.
The young Brazilian is rehabilitating his career on loan with Lyon after his progress at Real Madrid nosedived this season. The striker moved in January on the advice of Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti, whose successor Xabi Alonso had limited the 19-year-old to just three games.
Endrick’s subsequent form at Lyon has restored optimism that one of Brazil’s greatest young talents can still fulfil his potential. He has six goals and five assists in his 14 games, which earned him a recall to the national team a year on from his last cap.
Endrick put himself firmly in the conversation to make the squad over this international break. Despite competition from Brentford's Igor Thiago and Chelsea’s Joao Pedro, Endrick made his mark by turning the game in Brazil's 3-1 friendly win over Croatia.
The striker came off the bench at 1-1 and won his side a penalty, scored by Igor Thiago, before setting up Gabriel Martinelli in stoppage-time in a decisive 20-minute cameo.
Endrick said after the game that he felt a "sense of urgency" to deliver after being an unused substitute in the defeat to France. His sense of ocassion created the hype around him when he joined Real Madrid and, on this ocassion, he was able to deliver once again.
Ancelotti said his squad is already pretty much set in his head after Brazil's win over Croatia. Endrick seized his chance but is not considered to be among the certainties to make the World Cup.
It is some fall for a player who not long ago seemed destined to be Brazil’s next great No 9. But the young striker, who turns 20 two days after the World Cup final, is fighting his way back. Endrick has time on his side.
Rayan
Nation: Brazil
Club: Bournemouth
Age: 19
Position: Winger
The young Brazilian Bournemouth signed to replace Antoine Semenyo in the January transfer window arrived as a relative unknown. The teenager was a revelation in Brazil, scoring 20 goals in 57 games for Vasco da Gama, but now the whole world knows of his talent.
Rayan's impact on the south coast has softened the blow of Semenyo's departure for Bournemouth fans. The winger had two goals and an assist after his first three Premier League games – and has started all but one of Bournemouth's top-flight matches since joining.
Excitement about Rayan has not been restricted to these shores. His impressive Premier League performances earned him a first call-up for the Brazil national team in their final get together before Carlo Ancelotti names his squad for the World Cup.
The 19-year-old has his work cut-out to make it into the squad for this summer's tournament with the likes of Vinicius Junior and Raphinha occupying the starting spots on the wings but Rayan is not short on ambition.
On international duty with Brazil, the teenager revealed his desire to play for the “most powerful team in the world” in five years' time. For now he says he is happy with Bournemouth, who have protected themselves by inserting a huge release clause in Rayan's contract.
Any interested club must pay £87m (€100m) to get Rayan out of Bournemouth. That price might seem steep right now, but at the trajectory he is on, you would not bet against it happening soon. It is a matter of time before Rayan explodes onto the world stage.
Kees Smit
Nation: Netherlands
Club: AZ Alkmaar
Age: 19
Position: Midfielder
Kees Smit has quickly risen through the ranks at AZ Alkmaar's academy and is now a staple in the first-team's midfield at 19.
Newcastle, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona have already been credited with an interest in the midfielder, who thrives in tight spaces and always looks to progress the ball. Smit says he wants to test himself at the highest level as soon as possible.
The 19-year-old's fearlessness was clear when he made his Netherlands debut from the start in a 2-1 win over Norway. Smit played for 70 minutes as a deep-lying midfielder next to Ryan Gravenberch in the absence of the injured Frenkie De Jong.
Smit's first international call-up will no doubt be followed by many more. The big question is whether one will come this summer for the World Cup. Clearly, he has a big fan in Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman, who compared Smit to Pedri before calling him up.
"I see things in Kees Smit that remind me of him [Pedri]," said Koeman, who coached the Spain star at Barcelona. "The changes of direction, the use of both feet, the vision of the game — these are things I noticed in Pedri at the time.”
Midfield talent is at a premium this summer and with a potential spot in the World Cup now in the hands of Smit. Remember the name.
Nico O'Reilly
Nation: England
Club: Manchester City
Age: 21
Position: Left-back and midfielder
Left-back has been a problem area for England over the years but a breakthrough season at Manchester City for Nico O'Reilly has quickly addressed that issue. Sky Sports News' England reporter Rob Dorsett has predicted O'Reilly to be in Thomas Tuchel's World Cup XI.
O'Reilly has shot from exciting prospect to virtually indispensable at City under Pep Guardiola after making the left-back position his own in the absence of the injured Rayan Ait-Nouri early in the season. The 21-year-old has become so much more than just a full-back, though.
His heroics in the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal outlined exactly that. His double fired City to silverware ahead of the Premier League leaders to breath new life into their season after falling flat in the title race and being knocked out of the Champions League.
At 6ft 4in, the 21-year-old is also strong in both boxes, and has a knack for popping up with a goal, scoring eight times for City this season. Tuchel's desire for England to be a danger at set-pieces at the World Cup only strengthens O'Reilly's claim to the left-back position.
O'Reilly primarily played as a creative midfielder in City's academy and has been used in nearly every position by Guardiola. Some of his best performances have come in the middle of the park and that versatility makes him an even more valuable inclusion in Tuchel's squad.
As it stands, the England boss looks most likely to use him at left-back in a 4-2-3-1 with either Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon cutting in ahead of him on the wing. That set up should provide O'Reilly plenty of room to maraud into and demonstrate his threat in the final third.
O'Reilly made his full Premier League debut less than a year ago but has already become a decisive player for City in the biggest games. Now it is time to do the same for England at the World Cup.
Luka Vuskovic
Nation: Croatia
Club: Tottenham (on loan at Hamburg)
Age: 19
Position: Defender
Luka Vuskovic’s future is one of the more overlooked consequences of Tottenham’s potential relegation from the Premier League. It is hard to see a world in which they convince the 19-year-old, one of Europe’s best defensive talents, to stick around if they are in the Championship.
It would not be hyperbolic to suggest the towering teenager has been Spurs’ best performer this season while on loan at Hamburg. Reports suggest Europe’s top clubs are lining up to sign the central defender this summer after a stellar debut campaign in the Bundesliga.
Vuskovic, who has five Bundesliga goals this season, became Croatia's second-youngest goalscorer last month with a deflected strike from range in a 2-1 friendly win over Colombia last month. There was a big slice of luck for the goal but he was also the stand-out performer.
It was only the second time Vuskovic has started for his country, and his third senior cap – but the defender feels like a shoo-in to make the tournament. England fans yet to watch Vuskovic in action are likely to get the chance in the group stages up against Croatia.
Captain Luka Modric, who made his Croatia debut one year before Vuskovic was born, has tipped the defender to play at the highest level. "He played two very good games, he has a great future ahead of him, he just needs to keep going." Vuskovic is one to watch.
Franco Mastantuono
Nation: Argentina
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 18
Position: Attacking midfielder
Franco Mastantuono arrived at Real Madrid for ÂŁ38m from River Plate in the summer shortly after becoming Argentina's youngest-ever player. His World Cup chances have diminished somewhat since after struggling to meet expectations in his first season in Europe.
The playmaker, currently playing most on the right, has fallen down the pecking order since Xabi Alonso was sacked and was on the wrong end of criticism from interim boss Alvaro Arbeloa last month for what he described as an “unacceptable” sending off against Getafe.
Mastantuono’s omission from the Argentina squad for the March internationals appeared to suggest his standing in the national team had taken a hit – but head coach Lionel Scaloni handed him a late call-up when it was decided they would play a second game.
Scaloni says he wants to be patient with the 18-year-old, who has four senior caps, and understands that the noise around Mastantuono's progress is magnified because he plays for “the most demanding” club in the world.
It remains to be seen if Scaloni’s support extends to a World Cup spot. Mastantuono made this 28-man squad, and played the second half against Mauritania, but the group will be smaller come June. He has it all to do at Real Madrid between now and then.
Max Dowman
Nation: England
Club: Arsenal
Age: 16
Position: Attacking midfielder
England boss Thomas Tuchel has left the door open for Max Dowman to go to the World Cup after the Arsenal academy graduate became the Premier League's youngest-ever scorer against Everton last month. But could he really make it?
The 16-year-old would comfortably break Theo Walcott's record as England's youngest player (17 years and 75 days old) if he were involved - but the former Arsenal winger's story should serve as a warning. Walcott never went to a World Cup again after 2006.
Dowman seems to possess a talent that only comes around once in a generation. Is that worth risking for a spot on the bench? Until the Arsenal youngster is playing more regularly for his club it feels unnecessary to throw him in. Dowman is still waiting for his first Premier League start after all.
Yet, his performances keep the conversation rumbling on. Dowman's inclusion in the Under-19s, rather than the U21s, raised a few eyebrows after his cameo against Everton, but he still managed to make headlines with an incredible solo goal against Portugal. For the second time in March, he scored after carrying the ball from his own half.
If Arsenal continue to struggle with injuries in the run-in, Dowman could get the minutes he needs to convince Tuchel. For now, it looks like this World Cup will come too soon. Don't count the kid out just yet, though.
Yan Diomande
Nation: Ivory Coast
Club: RB Leipzig
Age: 19
Position: Winger
RB Leipzig's exciting young winger is being tracked by Europe's elite. Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are among those interested and the World Cup presents Yan Diomande with the perfect opportunity to show the world why top clubs are queuing up for him.
The 19-year-old is well-verse in the demands of a major tournament, having started in all but one of the Ivory Coast's games at AFCON. He scored against Burkina Faso in the round of 16 before losing to Egypt in the quarter finals.
Diomande has also established himself as a regular starter for Leipzig and has 10 goals and six assists in 26 Bundesliga apperances this season. The direct, wide forward is not only brimming with talent but already has experience of dealing with the pressure of the big stage.
Ivory Coast face Germany, Ecuador, and Curacao in Group E which on paper makes him well placed to carry that form over into the World Cup to guide his country to the knockout phases in North America.
Diomande's time at the DME Academy in Florida before moving to Leganes also means he is returning to familiar ground on the East Coast for games against Ecuador and Curacao, which will be held in Philadelphia. It is a homecoming of sorts for the teenager.
Said El Mala
Nation: Germany
Club: FC Koln
Age: 19
Position: Winger
Tall in stature, shoulders dipped, Nike Mercurial boots on and a tendency to cut in on his favoured right foot before creating for his teammates or threatening on goal. Predictable yet unstoppable.
Squint and you would not be criticised for seeing flashes of a young Cristiano Ronaldo when you watch Said El Mala take to the pitch.
It is a lofty comparison but after taking to senior football with ease - scoring 10 goals and adding three assists across 27 Bundesliga appearances this season - it is clear El Mala is destined for great things.
Chelsea, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Newcastle and Brighton are just a few of the teams already linked with a move for the forward – and his stock will only rise if he gets a chance at this summer’s World Cup.
His directness, power and technical ability are traits every team desires. He’s on the radar of Julian Nagelsmann and top European clubs – he should be on yours too.
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If Tottenham are relegated from the Premier League it will be one of the biggest stories in the competition's history.
For all the analysis of what has gone wrong to leave Spurs in this perilous position, the sheer scale of the club makes a possible demotion to the second tier hard to comprehend...
Squad cost
Tottenham have the sixth most valuable squad in the Premier League. Yet, here they are, 17th in the table. Back where they finished last season - but this time in real danger of the drop.
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The ÂŁ747.8m combined valuation of Spurs players is so far in excess of the squad cost of other sides battling relegation it will leave fans questioning whether their players are really worth such astronomical figures.
It's no surprise they are the biggest underperformers when that ranking is stacked against league position.
Wages
When it comes to value for money, it's also worth noting Spurs rank seventh in the Premier League for wages paid, according to Capology.
Their gross annual payroll for this season is estimated at ÂŁ136.8m - that's ÂŁ49.3m more than Nottingham Forest and ÂŁ62.6m more than West Ham, two teams they are battling with for top-flight survival.
If Spurs were relegated, the below chart hints at the enormity of cost-cutting they may have to undergo.
Currently their wage bill is more than three times that of the most highly-paid Championship squad - Leicester City.
Their new boss Roberto De Zerbi doesn't have a relegation release clause in his contract.
Transfer spending
The transfer market is another big point of difference between where Spurs are and where they could be headed.
They spent almost as much in the two transfer windows this season as the entirety of the Championship combined.
Spurs' transfer spending over the past five seasons is equivalent to 67 per cent of transfer fees paid by the three teams relegated (or currently in the relegation zone) combined across those seasons.
Revenue and debt
Tottenham ranked ninth across Europe in the Deloitte Money League 2026.
Their revenue for the 2024/25 season was 672.6m Euros - that was ÂŁ565m at the exchange rate in January when the report was published - placing Spurs just behind Man Utd and ahead of fellow heavyweights Chelsea and Inter Milan.
Championship clubs had a combined revenue of ÂŁ958m for the 2023/24 season, although that figure fluctuates substantially season-on-season depending on which clubs are in the league.
Spurs also had a net debt of ÂŁ772m in June 2024, which was mainly made up of loans used to finance the building of their stadium.
Championship net debt in 23/24 was ÂŁ1.5bn.
Stadium size
'Tottenham away, ole, ole,' sang Lincoln City fans gleefully last month. The prospect of the Imps going to Spurs' ÂŁ1bn stadium as Championship rivals next season has frequently been noted to highlight the enormity of Tottenham's potential tumble out of the top flight.
But perhaps it would be the reverse match which would really underline the point - Lincoln's LNER Stadium can host 10,130 fans in contrast to the 62,850 capacity at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It's a world away from the venues Spurs' multi-millionaire footballers are used to playing at.
The smallest stadium in the Championship right now is Oxford United's Kassam Stadium, with a 12,500 capacity.
Season ticket prices
A change of league could also hit Spurs in the pocket when it comes to what they could charge for tickets.
Adult season tickets this season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium cost between ÂŁ856 and ÂŁ2,223.
At Championship side QPR you could get a season ticket for ÂŁ262.
Training ground
When it comes to facilities, the magnificent Spurs training centre is another point of contrast. The state-of-the-art venue, which boasts its own on-site accommodation, cost ÂŁ45m to build and opened in 2012.
If you adjust that for inflation that is the equivalent of ÂŁ65.6m - dwarfing the ÂŁ10m Championship side Stoke City spent on their training ground which opened in February 2026.
Honours
So would Tottenham be the biggest team ever to be relegated from the Premier League?
While their finances would suggest so, there may be other clubs rivalling them for that unwanted accolade when it comes to honours.
The below table shows the number of titles a team had when they were first relegated from the Premier League.
Seven-time champions of England Aston Villa went down in 2016.
If Spurs were to drop, last season's Europa League triumph means they would be the first side to go down having won the Champions League or Europa League (European Cup/UEFA Cup) on three occasions.
Leeds and Huddersfield have also been relegated from the Premier League and have both won more league titles than Spurs (three each).
Social media following
In the modern world, we can also measure the size of a club by their social media following.
Spurs have almost 10 million more followers on Instagram than the Championship's most-followed club Leicester City.
The Foxes account for a major chunk of the 18.67 million followers of Championship clubs combined on that platform, which only just surpasses the 17.38 million who follow Spurs.
Counting the cost for Spurs...
Relegation from the Premier League would be a big hit to the prestige of Tottenham Hotspur. As the figures above show, they are a behemoth of English football in so many areas.
But their enormity would also mean a drop to the Championship would hit them substantially on the balance sheet.
Relegation would cost around ÂŁ100m.
Unless they win the Champions League, they will be substantially worse off for not playing in Europe's elite club competition. They pocketed ÂŁ45.5m in prize money alone this season for reaching the last-16, with broadcast revenue to be added to that figure.
Will attendances remain as strong in the second tier? Currently, 22 per cent of Spurs' income is from matchday revenue.
They would receive a Premier League parachute payment of around ÂŁ50m, though, if they spend one season in the Championship.
The figures across the board are enormous - and highlight the scale of a potential relegation for Spurs.
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On Thursday at 7pm, Sky Sports News will be airing a special programme about Spurs' issues with their ever-present Premier League status under serious threat.
'Inside Spurs' will feature special guests, including Jamie O'Hara, to dissect and examine the club's predicament as they aim to avoid a first relegation in 49 years.
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The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust has criticised Roberto De Zerbi's appointment as Spurs head coach over his backing of Mason Greenwood when he was Marseille boss.
De Zerbi's arrival on a five-year contract "raises serious and far-reaching concerns", the group's strongly worded statement says, adding Spurs were directly warned about the "strength of feeling" among fans.
The Trust acknowledges the "immediate priority" is avoiding relegation with Spurs currently one point above the drop zone with seven games to go but says De Zerbi's hiring has the potential to divide the fanbase.
Greenwood joined Marseille from Manchester United in 2024 after charges against him, which included attempted rape and assault, were dropped. Last November, De Zerbi described him as a "good guy" who paid a "heavy price".
He added at the time: "It saddens me what happened in his life because I know a totally different person than the one who was described."
Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with one count of attempted rape, one of controlling and coercive behaviour and another of assault occasioning actual bodily harm over allegations relating to a woman after images and videos were posted online, although the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges in February 2023.
The charges against former Manchester United forward Greenwood were dropped because of "a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light", which meant there was "no realistic prospect of conviction".
Sky Sports News understands the Spurs board carefully considered and discussed the sentiments around De Zerbi's association with Greenwood during the hiring process and their new head coach is expected to address the issue.
The Trust says De Zerbi's comments about Greenwood "were unnecessary, ill-judged, and deeply offensive to a significant number of supporters".
"We believe these statements, left unchecked, will create a divide among supporters at a time when we all need to be pulling together to back the team," the statement read.
"It is concerning that the club would put us in this position right when the team needs fans the most.
"Fans are rallying behind the 'All Together, Always' initiative, and this appointment places heavy strain on that unity. If those remarks reflect his genuine views, they cast a troubling shadow over the values of the club we love."
The Trust, which advocated a short-term appointment until the end of the season before recruiting a permanent replacement for Igor Tudor during the summer, accused the club of risking eroding confidence in its integrity and ethical standards.
The statement continued: "We fully understand that the immediate priority is to avoid relegation. However, this situation is the result of prolonged strategic failings.
"THST have warned for years that the club was heading in this direction, and the lack of timely, sound decision-making has now left options severely compromised.
"It will take significant effort for many fans to restore their faith in the club's leadership. That process must begin with transparency, accountability and a renewed commitment to the principles that define Tottenham Hotspur."
'Spurs spoke to De Zerbi about fan concerns'
Sky Sports News' chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol:
"The Tottenham board were aware of the strength of feeling with regards to his appointment and knew some fans would be unhappy about it. They have spoken to Roberto De Zerbi about it.
"It has been addressed behind closed doors and it will be addressed in public as well.
"When De Zerbi has his first press conference, he will address the media's questions and the concerns of the reporters."
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Tottenham have appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their third head coach of the season.
De Zerbi has agreed terms over a five-year contract with Spurs, currently one point above the Premier League's bottom three, which does not include a relegation release clause.
Spurs are fighting to avoid a first top-flight relegation since 1977 in the final seven games of the season.
De Zerbi has more than a week to prepare for his first game, a trip to Sunderland on April 12, live on Sky Sports, and says climbing the table is Spurs' "priority" and will have his "complete focus".
Is De Zerbi the right coach at the wrong time for Spurs?
Merson: De Zerbi best money Spurs will ever spend if they stay up
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The pressure is on to get this appointment right after Igor Tudor's disastrous 44-day spell in which he failed to win a Premier League game. Spurs have moved on three head coaches in the past year.
De Zerbi, who was previously reluctant to take a job before the summer after leaving Marseille, says he was convinced to join Spurs on a "long-term contract" after discussions with the club's leadership.
"Their ambition for the future has been clear - to build a team capable of reaching great achievements, and to do that playing a style of football that excites and inspires our supporters," De Zerbi told the Spurs website.
"I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it."
Sporting director Johan Lange said Spurs are pleased De Zerbi, their first choice to take over in the summer, has agreed to take on the mantle of keeping them in the Premier League.
"He is one of the most creative and forward-thinking coaches in world football, and brings with him a wealth of experience at the highest level, including in the Premier League," Lange added.
How De Zerbi plans to keep Spurs up
Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol:
Roberto De Zerbi is up for the challenge. Spurs have seven games to avoid their first relegation since 1977, and he feels it is a massive responsibility to ensure their ever-present Premier League status is preserved.
Sitting just a point above the drop zone, everybody at Tottenham recognises the perilous position they are in.
De Zerbi has made it clear that the sole goal right now is to channel resources into making sure the club stays up. Everything else - building for the long term and restoring Tottenham to the top end of the Premier League - will come later.
The Italian is not buying into the talk that a rebuild and wholesale changes are needed. He is well aware of the strengths of the current squad and believes it needs consistency, a firm goal and a clear path to get out of danger.
Much has been made of De Zerbi's expansive approach, which his former Brighton captain Lewis Dunk said "baffled" the players when he arrived at the club in September 2022.
But it is understood that with Spurs' current predicament, he will not overcomplicate it for the players, instead simplifying the game and tactics in order to maximise returns in the short term.
The 46-year-old believes so many changes before him at Spurs have affected the players, and now it is about fighting for a common cause.
There have also been question marks over his combustibility, considering his exits at Brighton and Marseille after he fell out with the hierarchies.
For De Zerbi, it is a sign of his passion for the job - he makes huge demands of himself, his players, sporting directors and senior executives. He believes challenging each other is the best way to improve and to get the best from everyone.
De Zerbi's imminent appointment has faced concerns from several Spurs fan groups after he backed Mason Greenwood when he was Marseille boss.
It is understood that he expects questions about this when he is presented to the media for the first time.
But ultimately, De Zerbi wants a strong relationship with fans, as he has done at all previous clubs, to help prevent Spurs from dropping into the Championship.
Can De Zerbi deliver required instant results?
Tottenham, who currently sit one point above the relegation zone, are in need of a head coach who can deliver instant results with just seven games left to secure their survival.
De Zerbi has established himself as a coach who instils a possession-based philosophy, creating teams that are praised for their attractive style of football.
However, the Italian's start at Brighton when he took over mid-season in 2022 following Graham Potter's departure would suggest he might struggle to have the required impact.
De Zerbi failed to win any of his first five Premier League games in charge of Brighton, drawing twice and losing three games, albeit facing a tough schedule.
When taking over at Serie A newcomers Benevento mid-season in 2017, De Zerbi's side were praised for the football they played, but were relegated from Italy's top flight.
De Zerbi failed to win any of his first nine games in charge of Benevento.
The Italian also struggled when taking over Palermo mid-season in 2016, winning just one of his 13 games before being sacked less than three months into the job.
Tottenham are set to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as their next permanent head coach.
De Zerbi has agreed terms over a five-year contract with Spurs, currently one point above the Premier League's bottom three, which does not include a relegation release clause.
Spurs, who are turning to their third head coach of the season, are fighting to avoid a first top-flight relegation since 1977 in the final seven games of the season.
Travel plans are being arranged for De Zerbi, whose first game in charge is not until Sunday April 12 when Spurs go to Sunderland, live on Sky Sports.
De Zerbi will retain Bruno Saltor, the assistant of his predcessor Igor Tudor, on his coaching staff in north London. Tudor left Spurs after a disastrous 44-day spell in which he failed to win a single Premier League game.
Is De Zerbi the right coach at the wrong time for Spurs?
Merson: De Zerbi best money Spurs will ever spend if they stay up
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It is understood De Zerbi is the unanimous choice at board and ownership level, with Spurs' executive team convinced he has the necessary credentials to make an instant impact.
Spurs pushed hard to convince De Zerbi to take over before the summer, after the Italian had previously indicated he wanted to take a break when he left Marseille in February.
Several Spurs fan groups have urged the club to rethink appointing De Zerbi over his backing of Mason Greenwood when he was Marseille boss.
Former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood, who has repeatedly put his name in the frame to take over, told Sky Sports that De Zerbi is the perfect choice long-term - but only if he can keep Spurs in the Premier League.
"I love his personality and the way his teams play," said the Sky Sports pundit. "But they can be open and can get hammered in some games - you can't get hammered between now and the end of the season.
"[De Zerbi] wanted to have a break after Marseille in February, but why didn't [Spurs] bring him in then? Why didn't they bring him in before Igor Tudor? You'd have given him another seven games to go at, then I would've had total confidence that he would keep them in the league."
How De Zerbi plans to keep Spurs up…
Sky Sports News chief correspondent Kaveh Solhekol:
Roberto De Zerbi is up for the challenge.
Spurs have seven games to avoid their first relegation since 1977, and he feels it is a massive responsibility to ensure their ever-present Premier League status is preserved.
Sitting just a point above the drop zone, everybody at Tottenham recognises the perilous position they are in.
De Zerbi has made it clear that the sole goal right now is to channel resources into making sure the club stays up. Everything else - building for the long term and restoring Tottenham to the top end of the Premier League - will come later.
The Italian is not buying into the talk that a rebuild and wholesale changes are needed. He is well aware of the strengths of the current squad and believes it needs consistency, a firm goal and a clear path to get out of danger.
Much has been made of De Zerbi's expansive approach, which his former Brighton captain Lewis Dunk said "baffled" the players when he arrived at the club in September 2022.
But it is understood that with Spurs' current predicament, he will not overcomplicate it for the players, instead simplifying the game and tactics in order to maximise returns in the short term.
The 46-year-old believes so many changes before him at Spurs have affected the players, and now it is about fighting for a common cause.
There have also been question marks over his combustibility, considering his exits at Brighton and Marseille after he fell out with the hierarchies.
For De Zerbi, it is a sign of his passion for the job - he makes huge demands of himself, his players, sporting directors and senior executives. He believes challenging each other is the best way to improve and to get the best from everyone.
De Zerbi's imminent appointment has faced concerns from several Spurs fan groups after he backed Mason Greenwood when he was Marseille boss.
It is understood that he expects questions about this when he is presented to the media for the first time.
But ultimately, De Zerbi wants a strong relationship with fans, as he has done at all previous clubs, to help prevent Spurs from dropping into the Championship.
De Zerbi's main task? Start winning and keep Spurs in the Premier League
Sky Sports News reporter Michael Bridge:
"There is no real long term if he can't succeed in the short term. Forget about, for now, putting Tottenham back into the European positions - they've been in Europe about 17, 18 times in the last 20-odd years. That's quite an impressive feat if you think about the amount of big clubs who aren't in Europe.
"Manchester United aren't in Europe currently, but he has to keep this club in the Premier League. It's serious now. He's got a decent squad. He's got a lot of injuries. It's not the squad of the [Mauricio] Pochettino era.
"It's not even the squad from the [Antonio] Conte era. He doesn't have [Harry] Kane, he doesn't have [Heung-Min] Son, but he still has players that should not be anywhere near the bottom three.
"And if he does get the job, his first job will be at Sunderland and they could well be in the bottom three when he takes that team to the Stadium of Light.
"Keep it simple - he talks about it takes him weeks on end to get his philosophy over, his style of play over. He's an experienced manager. He's been a Premier League manager. He knows exactly what it's like to go to Sunderland away and his first home game will be against, would you believe it, Brighton.
"He knows them pretty well too. It sounds simple but just start winning - and make Tottenham great again."
Analysis: Maverick De Zerbi offers hope that Spurs need
Sky Sports' Adam Bate:
It is the final roll of the dice. De Zerbi or bust for Tottenham. To dare is to do. Is this combustible character the galvanising motivator that this situation demands? Perhaps not. But it is an appointment that intrigues, excites and - importantly - offers hope.
Igor Tudor was a pragmatist on paper who proved anything but on the pitch. De Zerbi at least brings Premier League experience and the prospect of transforming the club's fortunes in the short and long term. If he can keep Spurs up, it could be a turning point.
For good and for bad, his reputation precedes him. An innovator in terms of how the game is played, his name was the most frequently mentioned when this journalist was working on a project about the future of football tactics a couple of summers ago.
Coach after coach who was consulted for that project cited De Zerbi as an inspiration. "He is producing something that is maybe unique in football right now," said one. "He has probably given Pep Guardiola his biggest headache," added another.
Why? "The distances, the positions, the body shape, the intentions that each player has in possession." These ideas still feel progressive. "How you control the rhythm and progress through space will be big in the future." His teams tend to be at the vanguard.
And yet, while Marseille are a hugely supported club with a proud history, there is a reason why De Zerbi did not land a bigger job after leaving Brighton. While his predecessor was handed the keys to Chelsea, something held Europe's giants back.
A brand of football not necessarily proven to deliver the top trophies was one aspect but De Zerbi's nature - the ability to manage up and down - was the more significant factor. Could he fit in? Nothing that he did at Marseille will have assuaged those concerns.
There were the intermittent threats to quit, accusing his players of humiliating him with their performance as early as November of his first season. By April, there were reports that he had refused to train the team with the players going above him to complain.
Players were scrapping in training in August - Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe both being moved on. Marseille is a difficult club for anyone to manage but De Zerbi, 46, was often perceived to have inflamed things rather than being a calming influence.
Will Spurs fans be worried by any of this? Not really. They are desperate for anyone who can provide the club with a lift. It is in their hands, of course. And yet, they are vulnerable. Should West Ham go on any kind of run, it could prove too much for them.
If that is the case, a summer of recriminations awaits. Some supporters would have preferred De Zerbi last summer and many more will lament that they had to endure seven games of Tudor before turning to him now. This final roll of the dice has to work.
Is De Zerbi a good mid-season appointment?
Tottenham, who currently sit one point above the relegation zone, are in need of a head coach who can deliver instant results with just seven games left to secure their survival.
De Zerbi has established himself as a coach who instils a possession-based philosophy, creating teams that are praised for their attractive style of football.
However, the Italian's start at Brighton when he took over mid-season in 2022 following Graham Potter's departure would suggest he might struggle to have the required impact.
De Zerbi failed to win any of his first five Premier League games in charge of Brighton, drawing twice and losing three games, albeit facing a tough schedule.
When taking over at Serie A newcomers Benevento mid-season in 2017, De Zerbi's side were praised for the football they played, but were relegated from Italy's top flight.
De Zerbi failed to win any of his first nine games in charge of Benevento.
The Italian also struggled when taking over Palermo mid-season in 2016, winning just one of his 13 games before being sacked less than three months into the job.
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