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Tottenham look set to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as their new permanent head coach this week on a long-term contract.

The Italian was initially reluctant to dive back in mid-season, preferring to wait until the summer to assess his options, having left Marseille in February. But a breakthrough in talks with Spurs has led to De Zerbi being the chosen one for now and the future, with a five-year contract on offer at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

De Zerbi had been approached by Tottenham in the summer, following the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou, but rejected the opportunity to move to north London, with Spurs going after Thomas Frank instead.

It Is Panic Stations At Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham have seven games to save their Premier League skin, with one point and one place separating themselves from the bottom three, meaning De Zerbi has to get to work quickly and get his philosophy and style of play drummed into a group of players who are low in confidence and have appeared to lack the stomach for the fight in recent weeks.

Former England international Stuart Pearce believes Spurs have made the wrong choice in bringing in a permanent successor to Igor Tudor now.

Speaking to Betway before the news of De Zerbi's imminent appointment, he said: "I think it will be an interim situation. If I was Spurs, I wouldn't be looking to put anyone in full-time. The way they're looking right now, it will be panic stations.

"There's no doubt a lot of money gets lost if you drop out of this division and a lot of rebuilding would need doing. They need to bring someone through the door on a short-term basis.

"As bizarre as it sounds, someone like Harry Redknapp who knows the club would give the fans a lift. He's got the charisma and the personality to lift that dressing room over a short period of time."

De Zerbi is clearly a coach for next season, but coming in now means he has a massive job on his hands in keeping Tottenham in the Premier League, before he can even think about what he's going to do in 2026/27.

Stuart Pearce Lays Into Tottenham Players

Pearce believes the players are to blame for the mess they are in.

He added: "I think he's [Igor Tudor] come into a squad that look every inch a team that are not particularly reliable, so I feel half sorry for him. He's not got them going in any way, shape or form.

"They certainly look like a team that think they're too good to be where they are, but they're not contributing with their performances and their togetherness.

"That is the biggest problem. It's easy to say, get Tudor out, but they've just moved on, I thought, a fantastic manager in Thomas Frank. But for me, the questions would be in the dressing room, more so than the management level at Tottenham Hotspur."

Tottenham Hotspur have finalised an agreement with Roberto De Zerbi to take over as their new manager immediately, according to Corriere Dello Sport.

Spurs currently sit just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League with seven games remaining of the season, which saw them part ways with interim manager Igor Tudor just 44 days after his arrival, where he replace Thomas Frank.

The north London club have been pushing for the arrival of De Zerbi, their 'dream' appointment, in recent days as they look to secure their Premier League status, and an agreement has now been found for him to step in immediately rather than in the summer.

Tottenham Agree De Zerbi Deal

According to Sky Sports Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, there is a preliminary agreement in place between the parties over a five-year deal, and only the final details remain before an official announcement.

But in Italy, Corriere Dello Sport have gone one step further and declared it a 'done deal', with De Zerbi expected to put pen to paper on a deal in the coming hours. He is expected to take charge of his first game on April 12th, when Spurs travel to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland.

He will now be tasked with avoiding a drop to the Championship before rebuilding the squad in the summer in his image to make the current Europa League holders competitive once again.

Tottenham Taking Big Gamble With De Zerbi

One of the great tacticians in world football at the moment, De Zerbi is someone who Spurs have selected because of his attacking style of football that they saw while he was at Brighton and Marseille.

But handing the Italian a five-year deal is a huge gamble. Not only is there no guarantee that he can keep them in the Premier League in the final seven games, but he has never spent two seasons at any club as a manager despite regularly being praised.

At Marseille he walked away from the job in the middle of the season because of poor performances, and should he do the same at Spurs it would leave them right back at square one. It's a great appointment, and the board have been desperate for him, but time will tell if it was the right decision.

Tottenham are expected to confirm a deal to make Roberto De Zerbi their new permanent head coach on a five-year contract in the coming days.

De Zerbi will become Spurs' third head coach of the 2025/26 season, having started the campaign with Thomas Frank - who only replaced Ange Postecoglou in the summer, before an Igor Tudor interim reign ended in ignominious disaster after just 44 days.

The Italian, who left his role as Marseille boss just hours before Frank left Tottenham, had been waiting until the summer to make a decision on his next move, but following a breakthrough in talks with Spurs, looks set to take over on a permanent basis before the season ends.

Roberto De Zerbi Needs Immediate Buy-In From Tottenham Players

His first task is clear - keeping Tottenham in the Premier League, with the Lilywhites just one point and one place above the relegation zone with seven games to go.

But to do that he will need buy-in from a group of players who have shown little in the way of fight in the battle to avoid the drop in recent weeks and months.

There were reports that Frank alienated certain members of the squad, leading to his departure, while Tudor's brash approach rubbed some stars up the wrong way too, particularly on that fateful night in Madrid when he substituted young goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky after just 17 minutes and refused to acknowledge the stricken keeper as he walked off.

De Zerbi, himself, is a volatile character and will take no prisoners. He will demand things to be done his way or players risk being dropped.

Tottenham Players Discuss De Zerbi Appointment

But according to the Times, the players are already on board with the decision to hand De Zerbi the reins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Some of the Tottenham players who have remained at home during the international break, went out for dinner over the weekend, according to the report in the Times, and the 'mood was said to be one of “excitement” about the idea of De Zerbi’s arrival'.

De Zerbi will need the players on board from minute one once he arrives, there is simply no time to waste given Spurs' perilous position at the bottom of the Premier League table.

Frank was an underwhelming choice to take over from Postecoglou - although De Zerbi was asked about the role back then too but rejected the approach. Tudor was an unmitigated disaster. Tottenham have to get it right now with De Zerbi.

Anyone looking back at his early record with Brighton will be worried - they did not win any of his first five games in charge - but if the players are on board from the get-go, Spurs will have every chance of staying up and then rebuilding under the fiery Italian next season.

Mauricio Pochettino has denied talks with either former club Tottenham or Real Madrid, insisting he could renew his contract with the United States Men's National Team instead.

Pochettino was speaking to assembled media ahead of Tuesday's friendly with Portugal and addressed rumours of a move back to club football after the 2026 World Cup.

"No talks [with other clubs]. I think we are very, very focused here in the World Cup," said Pochettino, whose USMNT contract expires this summer. "I think everyone knows that I am committed with the national team here. I think it's not the point to talk about the future at the moment.

"Who knows what is going to happen? And by the way, we are open [to staying]. We don't have contract for the future. But why not? If we are happy, and the federation is happy and [we'll have] to see. I think the most important now is to be focusing on the game [on Tuesday] and the World Cup, and to try to improve.

"Of course, the rumours are there, but that is our business and we accept it."

Pochettino Denies Tottenham Return Talks

Pochettino has been linked with a summer back move to Tottenham, but his former club are instead in advanced talks with ex-Brighton and Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi.

If all goes to plan, De Zerbi will take charge of the final seven games of the season as Spurs look to avoid relegation. The Italian has been offered a five-year contract despite initially indicating he would only consider a role over the summer, and when he knew whether Spurs had avoided relegation.

Spurs are currently one point above the relegation zone and Pochettino is backing the club to stay up regardless of who they hire. He said:

"My connection with Tottenham means it is impossible to feel nothing about Tottenham, the people who work there and the fans.

"It was one of my best experiences in my life. Of course, it's my wish, and I'm sure they are going to stay up and that's with a coach or without a coach. Because of the players — I think they have unbelievable players — and then it's a club with fans that are going to do everything to create the energy to win.

"It's going to be tough because the synergy and dynamic is difficult. But what I'm going to say is with or without a coach they have the ability to win, I really believe that. Of course, we are going to be here, full focus on the World Cup, but if you ask me about that club, it's a club that I really care about. I really trust they will stay in the Premier League."

Tottenham Hotspur's bid to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as their manager immediately has prompted a Monday evening update from Sky Sports journalist Lyall Thomas.

GIVEMESPORT sources revealed previously that the Italian was Spurs' top choice to replace Igor Tudor, above former boss Maurucio Pochettino, after he departed the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday by mutual consent.

The north Londoners decided they needed to take another route just 44 days into the Croat's reign, with a run of one point from a possible 15 leaving them just a single point above the Premier League relegation zone with seven matches of the campaign remaining.

Tottenham are in desperate need of an upturn in performances and results among a squad of players who haven't tasted success in the league since they beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on December 28, 2025.

Spurs could find themselves in the bottom three by the next time they play, with 18th-placed West Ham United hosting rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers at the London Stadium a week on Friday.

Tottenham Talks to Hire De Zerbi 'Progressing Well'

As per Thomas, posting on X on Monday evening, according to sources close to negotiations between Tottenham and the Italian manager, things are progressing well towards his appointment in north London.

GIVEMESPORT sources revealed on Monday lunchtime that Spurs were closing in on the appointment of De Zerbi after offering him a five-year deal that will make him the Premier League's third best-paid manager behind Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Arsenal chief Mikel Arteta.

The breakthrough came just days after the 46-year-old had told Tottenham he was only interested in taking the role on in the summer, but now the lucrative offer has made him more open to a switch to north London now to save the club from the drop.

De Zerbi to Tottenham Comes With Its Risks

While Tottenham are now optimistic of appointing their number one target on a long-term deal, according to GMS sources, the move won't come without its risks.

De Zerbi has a distinct style of play that could take some time for the players to pick up, should he intend to use it in the remaining weeks of the season.

Spurs will want the Italian at Hotspur Way as quickly as possible so he can start working with the players ahead of the trip to Sunderland on April 12, implementing his methods and getting the players onside and confident.

De Zerbi failed to win any of his first five matches in charge at Brighton and Hove Albion previously, and will know he can't afford to repeat that given the precarious situation Tottenham find themselves in.

In addition, there have been objections off the field too, with supporters' groups unhappy with De Zerbi comments on Mason Greenwood and how he supported his career rebuild at Marseille following his controversial exit from Manchester United.

The latest information on Tottenham Hotspur's bid to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as their next manager has been shared from inside the club by Football London correspondent Alasdair Gold.

Spurs are looking for their third manager of the season after Igor Tudor departed the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by mutual consent on Sunday after just 44 days in charge.

The Croat had been brought in by the north Londoners to steer the club away from the Premier League relegation zone as he replaced the sacked Thomas Frank, but the appointment was a disaster.

The 47-year-old only picked up one point from a possible 15 in the top flight, while they were also well beaten by Atletico Madrid across two legs in the last-16 of the Champions League.

With Tottenham now just one point above the bottom three, they have been working on appointing De Zerbi as their manager for the rest of the season.

Tottenham 'Closing In On' De Zerbi Appointment

According to Gold, posting on X on Monday afternoon, Tottenham are closing in on the appointment of De Zerbi, but it doesn't come without issues on and off the pitch.

GIVEMESPORT sources revealed on Monday lunchtime that there has been a breakthrough in talks and now the Italian is ready to perform a U-turn on his previous stance of not wanting to consider taking the Spurs job until the summer.

Tottenham have offered him a five-year contract on a lucrative salary that would make him the third best-paid manager in the Premier League behind only Mikel Arteta of Arsenal and Manchester City's Pep Guardiola.

The 46-year-old is now open to taking the job now, with club chiefs optimistic of agreeing a deal.

Gold: De Zerbi Appointment is Risky

While Gold confirms that his style of football matches how Spurs senior chiefs want the club to play, it could be risky across seven matches given what is at stake, and how he is working with a group of players whose confidence is at rock-bottom given they are without a league win in 2026.

Whether De Zerbi can implement his ideas quickly, and ideally before they face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on April 12, or if he will have to be adaptive to his style to ensure they pick up immediate results, remains to be seen.

The other main concern off the pitch is the fact that two of the club's supporters' groups have expressed their opposition to the appointment of the Italian given his comments and how he supported Mason Greenwood in rebuilding his career at Marseille, prior to his exit from the French club last month.

The five-year contract offer is also interesting, given De Zerbi has only managed to stay at one club for more than two years, with his previous two roles at Marseille and Brighton lasting between 19-21 months.

We Asked AI if De Zerbi Will Keep Tottenham Up

GIVEMESPORT ran a virtual simulation to see if De Zerbi will keep Tottenham in the Premier League, and this is what it said.

'Right now, Tottenham Hotspur are in a genuine relegation fight—just one point above the drop zone with ~7 games left and on a long winless run . They’re even among the betting favourites to go down, with odds implying a serious risk .

If Roberto De Zerbi is appointed now:

Short term: His complex, possession-heavy system usually takes time. With so few games left, there’s a real risk results don’t improve immediately.

However: Spurs’ current trajectory is very poor (no league win in 2026, major defensive issues), so any clear structure and attacking identity could stabilise performances quickly .

Key factor: Fixtures and confidence. Relegation rivals are close in points, so even 2–3 wins could be enough.

So—would they avoid relegation?

Probably yes, but not comfortably.

Models and odds suggest roughly a 15–25% relegation risk right now .

De Zerbi would likely improve performances, but not instantly transform results.

Survival would likely go down to the final 1–2 matches.

Summary:

If De Zerbi joins, Spurs become more structured and attacking, but adaptation time is a problem with only a few games left. Given how poor their current form is, even moderate improvement could be enough to survive. They would likely avoid relegation—but narrowly, and only after a tense run-in rather than a comfortable escape.'

It looks like Roberto De Zerbi is going to be the new permanent head coach at Tottenham Hotspur, with a breakthrough in talks between the club and the Italian over a five-year deal in N17.

Tottenham had earmarked De Zerbi as one of the standout names to arrive at the club in the summer, alongside former boss Mauricio Pochettino.

But with interim head coach Igor Tudor only lasting 44 days in charge, with just one point picked up from his five matches in charge, Spurs have accelerated plans to appoint De Zerbi early, even though the former Brighton boss was keen to wait until the summer to assess all of the options available to him.

Pep Guardiola Thinks Roberto De Zerbi Is King

Tottenham have, however, made the Italian a lucrative long-term offer, along with a sizable bonus for keeping the Lilywhites in the Premier League this season.

The question is, is it the right move?

De Zerbi is undoubtedly a talented manager, you have to be for Pep Guardiola to describe you as "one of the most influential managers of the last 20 years" when he was on the south coast.

The Coaches' Voice described De Zerbi as "liking his teams to play a possession-based style of football, focusing heavily on shorter build-up from the goalkeeper" and that it is a "high risk, high reward" approach.

It is an open, expansive and attacking style of play, normally in a 4-2-3-1 formation, that allows players to hunt down the opposition and spring traps on them. It is a brand of football that will go down well with the Tottenham Hotspur fans, who demand that attacking verve.

It is probably the right move for next season, but whether it is the correct call for the here and now, or even beyond the end of the 2026/27 season, are certainly different questions.

Tottenham are in danger of being relegated, just one point and one place off the bottom three in the Premier League with only seven games left to go. Can De Zerbi turn things around in seven games? That is the most important thing right now, the fate of the club heading into 2026/27.

Players May Not Respond To De Zerbi's Forthright Views

At Brighton he did not win any of his first five games in charge. Spurs would more than likely be relegated if that were to happen in north London now. He did, however, win four of his first five in charge of Marseille in 2024/25, but that was after a full pre-season, something he did not get at the Amex, nor will he have at Spurs.

He is a combustible character. A fiery Italian, he has and will continue to speak his mind and do things his way. That may well be a positive in giving the current crop of Tottenham players, who have been failing for too long, the rocket up the backside that they need. But will he get on with and appease the board of directors in N17?

De Zerbi wanted to move quicker than Brighton were prepared to and left his role on the south coast following a difference on opinion. He threatened to quit Marseille just five months into his reign because of issues behind the scenes.

What Spurs really need right now is stability. there has never been such a chasm of disconnect between the club, the players and their fans before and someone needs to come in and knit everything together. De Zerbi could, quite simply, make things worse.

Speaking on Talksport, former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor said: "You don't need a hothead like De Zerbi to come in now and upset players again, players who didn't respond to Tudor."

Tim Sherwood described De Zerbi as "hard to deal with" on Sky Sports News claiming he was "far from a safe pair of hands".

It's hard to disagree with them.

De Zerbi Will Make Big Demands Of Tottenham Hierarchy In The Summer

If he keeps Tottenham in the Premier League, De Zerbi will want - and need - big money to spend in the summer transfer window. Spurs have never been a club that will go out and splash the cash. There are sure to be rumblings of discontent as early as the summer if De Zerbi does not get what he wants.

Next season will be a thrill ride and the football will bring the fans back and get the atmosphere rising once more, but it just all feels like it will end in tears in 18 months to two years' time when De Zerbi invariably does not get what he wants and Spurs will be back to square one again. And the Pochettino return rumours will start back up again, because, let's face it, with De Zerbi coming in, the Tottenham board are just kicking that conversation down the road.

Vinai Venkatseham and Johna Lange are already under increasing pressure from a disillusioned fanbase and they are risking everything with a controversial appointment. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that if the De Zerbi decision ends in tears, they could be packing their bags out of N17 too.

Despite being on Tottenham Hotspur's shortlist to replace Igor Tudor, one coach has made the decision that he won't be their manager for the rest of the season for a clear reason, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

Spurs and Tudor parted ways by mutual consent on Sunday following a disastrous 44-day spell in charge, with Tottenham picking up just one point from 15 available in the Premier League and being knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid.

The death of Tudor's father delayed the final decision, with the north Londoners now looking for the manager that can save them from slipping into the Championship.

Tottenham's next Premier League match is against Sunderland on April 12, with Spurs chiefs looking to have their new man in place to work with the players when they return from international duty next week.

Roberto De Zerbi is one of the early favourites for the role, if they can persuade him to join now, while Adi Hutter was another name heavily linked with the job in recent weeks - but the Austrian won't be taking over.

Adi Hutter Rejects Tottenham

Hutter has been out of work since being sacked by Monaco in October, but he won't be making his return to management at Tottenham, unless it is in the summer as he continues his break from coaching.

The Austrian 'super coach' has decided that he doesn't want to be part of an in-season appointment, according to Galetti, posting on X on Monday morning, and would rather wait until the end of the campaign when he would be starting with a clean slate and a pre-season.

Hutter remains an option for Tottenham in the summer, but the north Londoners do have other preferred options.

Tottenham Trying to Appoint De Zerbi Now

While Hutter has turned down the opportunity to manage Tottenham for their final seven Premier League matches, Spurs are working on changing De Zerbi's stance on doing the same.

The Italian has been strong in his feelings of only taking on his next job in the summer, like Hutter, but Tottenham are in talks to make the former Brighton boss change his mind and accept the role now instead.

Spurs see De Zerbi as their top candidate now and in the summer, even over Mauricio Pochettino, and they have offered him a five-year contract which will make him one of the best-paid managers in the Premier League to join now.

How Would Tottenham Line Up Under Hutter Next Season?

To supplement our own knowledge, we leveraged AI-assisted analysis to deep-dive into how Tottenham could line up under Hutter next season.

'Under Adi Hutter, Spurs would likely shift to an aggressive, vertical system—most commonly a 3-4-2-1 or 4-2-3-1, built on high pressing and central overloads.

Most likely XI (3-4-2-1):

Vicario; Romero, Danso, Van de Ven; Porro, Gray, Bergvall, Udogie; Simons, Kudus; Solanke.

Key ideas:

Wing-backs (Porro/Udogie) provide width and crossing

Two advanced “10s” (e.g. Simons + Kudus) overload central zones

Double pivot (Gray/Bergvall-type) offers energy + pressing

Intense high press and quick transitions

He could also switch to a 4-2-3-1, moving Kudus wide and adding a winger like Tel or Richarlison up top.

Tottenham Hotspur are now close to an agreement with Roberto De Zerbi to appoint him as the club's next manager, according to GIVEMESPORT sources.

Spurs parted company with Igor Tudor by mutual consent on Sunday after a disastrous 44-day spell in charge, which has left the club in genuine danger of relegation to the Championship.

The last defeat of his reign at home to Nottingham Forest saw the Midlands club leapfrog them in the table, leaving Tottenham one point and place above the bottom three in the Premier League.

Tudor's reign ended with one point from 15 available, and now their next manager must look to build confidence in a squad that is without a Premier League win in 2026.

Spurs chiefs have wasted no time in trying to land Tudor's replacement, with a breakthrough in talks with De Zerbi on Monday morning.

De Zerbi Set to Perform Tottenham U-Turn

De Zerbi had previously told Tottenham officials that he wanted to wait until the summer before considering taking the job, but he is now ready to perform a U-turn on that stance after a major breakthrough in talks on Monday.

According to GMS sources, Spurs have offered the Italian a lucrative, five-year contract that has made him more open to taking the job for the final seven matches of the campaign.

Should he sign, De Zerbi would be the third best-paid manager in the Premier League.

The north Londoners are now confident of securing the 'world-class' 46-year-old, who was their first-choice target for the summer ahead of Mauricio Pochettino, GMS understands.

De Zerbi Agreement 'Close', But Not Done

While an agreement is getting closer, it is not done yet with Tottenham working on other details of the deal.

For example, there will be talks over a potential break clause in De Zerbi's contract should Spurs drop into the Championship next season, according to GMS sources, which will be a very important part of negotiations.

However, after a big shift in the mood in the last 48 hours, Tottenham now appear to be closing in on their desired manager target.

Should the move happen, De Zerbi's first match in charge of the north Londoners will be against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on April 12.

Spurs will be desperate to pick up their first league win of 2026 on Wearside, with West Ham hosting bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers at the London Stadium two days previously.

Tottenham want De Zerbi in place when the majority of players return from international duty later this week.

Roberto De Zerbi has been called "far from a safe pair of hands" when it comes to Tottenham's battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.

With just seven games of the season to go, Spurs are looking for their third manager of the 2025/26 campaign having parted ways with Igor Tudor on Sunday.

The Croatian only managed 44 days in charge of Tottenham, having replaced the sacked Thomas Frank in February, but just one point from five Premier League matches and elimination from the UEFA Champions League has led to his demise.

Now Tottenham are looking for either another interim head coach until the end of the season, or a permanent appointment now, with De Zerbi linked with taking the reins on a permanent basis before the season is out.

De Zerbi To Get Huge Bonus For Keeping Tottenham In The Premier League

Spurs had planned on waiting until the summer to appoint a permanent successor to Frank, but Tudor's inability to save the Lilywhites from the drop has forced them to change their thinking.

De Zerbi was alongside Mauricio Pochettino as leading candidates to arrive in N17 in the summer, GIVEMESPORT understands, but now Tottenham have accelerated plans to speak with De Zerbi and offer him a hefty bonus for keeping Spurs in the top flight.

GIVEMESPORT understands that Tottenham want to appoint De Zerbi now, but the Italian will take some convincing to accept the role with only seven games of the campaign to go.

De Zerbi was described by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola as "one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years" when he was at Brighton & Hove Albion and plays an open, expansive, attacking style of football that Tottenham fans will love.

De Zerbi Will Give The Spurs Fans What They Want

But is he capable of getting the Spurs players onside and fighting for the shirt to get them away from the bottom three between now and the end of the season, before really implementing his methods for the 2026/27 season?

Former Spurs player and manager Tim Sherwood is not sure.

Speaking on Sky Sports News, Sherwood said: "He's got such little time, hasn't he? For anyone going in now, you have to put a question mark on it, because it's only seven games left.

"I like him, I really do. I like his personality. I said many months ago that he would be the man to come into Tottenham. I would have picked him over Mauricio Pochettino for the long term.

"He plays the style that Tottenham fans want to play. He opens up the pitch, but not now, that style is not needed now. What they need now is a safe pair of hands. This is far from a safe pair of hands, by the way. I still like him, I love his personality, I love the way his teams play, but they can be open.

Why Tottenham Could Get Hammered With De Zerbi In Charge

"They can get hammered and you can't get hammered now between now and the end of the season, we saw his Marseille team play against Liverpool. Whoever they play against, they play an open style. He opens up the pitch. It's expansive, the way he wants to play.

"We know how stubborn this man is. I mean, this man is hard to deal with, but I like him for that, because he's got his own line, and he does it his way. So that's my only reservation. I think if he can get them over the line, I think he's a perfect manager for Tottenham, taking them forward.

"The main priority, obviously, is just to keep them in the league. At the moment, he would not be that firefighter type manager who comes in for this seven-game period.

"He wanted to have a break. He finished 16th of February at Marseille there. Why didn't they bring him in then why didn't they bring him in before Igor Tudor? You would have given him another seven games to go at then I would have total confidence that he would keep him in the league. They obviously didn't want him. They didn't want him then he was available, but they didn't want him."