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Roberto De Zerbi will not be able to work with a football legend he really wanted to be a part of the coaching staff at Tottenham Hotspur.

De Zerbi has begun working at Hotspur Way, and the Italian will have an extremely busy week and a half as he prepares the team for their big clash at Sunderland.

The 46-year-old will also have to finalise the make-up of his backroom staff for what appears to be a long-term project, unlike many of his previous managerial stints.

De Zerbi has made it clear that he has big ambitions at Tottenham, although his priority for now is to keep the club in the Premier League.

Alessando Nesta will not join Roberto De Zerbi’s coaching staff at Tottenham

Over the last few days, it has been widely reported that De Zerbi wants Italian football icon Alessandro Nesta to be part of his coaching set-up at Tottenham.

The World Cup-winning centre-back has been out of the game for almost a year since departing his role as Monza’s head coach at the end of last season.

However, The Sun have now revealed that the new Tottenham head coach is not expected to get his wish of working with the 50-year-old.

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The outlet says that Spurs are still sorting out De Zerbi’s coaching staff, but the new setup is not expected to include Nesta.

When will De Zerbi have his first press conference as Spurs boss?

The Sun backs up what other sources are saying regarding the former Brighton boss’s media duties, reporting that he is not expected to have a press conference this week.

The pre-match press conference ahead of the Sunderland clash on April 12 is set to be the first time that members of the media get a chance to address De Zerbi.

However, Spurs fans are expected to hear more from the Italian coach today via the club’s official website.

Roberto De Zerbi has made a big admission about what he intends to do as Tottenham Hotspur head coach in his first message to the fans.

The Tottenham players will have a new manager and coaching staff in place as they start trickling back from international duty.

De Zerbi will have a week and a half to prepare for his first game in charge, with the Lilywhites set to travel to the Stadium of Light on April 12.

The Italian has only seven games to prevent a relegation disaster at Spurs, but he has made it clear that he has a long-term plan at the North London club.

Roberto De Zerbi says he wants to stay at Tottenham for a ‘long time’

De Zerbi has signed a five-year contract with no relegation break clause at Tottenham, which shows his commitment to the project.

Reports indicate that the Italian coach is even prepared to rebuild the Spurs squad if they find themselves in the Championship next season.

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The 46-year-old has made it clear in his first video message to Spurs fans that he plans on staying at N17 for a long time and building something at the club.

De Zerbi told the club’s official channel: “Hello to all the Tottenham fans. I’m very happy to stay here with you. For me, it’s an honour and very proud to be your coach. I want to give my best. I want to stay for a long time in this big club. See you soon.”

Can De Zerbi lift the Spurs squad devoid of confidence?

Both Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor failed to galvanise the squad and inspire a performance out of them, and the club will be hoping that the Italian is the man to change that.

Reports indicate that the Tottenham players are excited by De Zerbi’s appointment as the club’s head coach.

However, unlike Frank, De Zerbi does not have a whole season to bed in his ideas. The Italian has even less time than Tudor did, with only seven fixtures remaining to save Spurs from the drop.

Roberto De Zerbi will take charge of his first Tottenham Hotspur fixture later this month and his starting lineup could look quite different to the ones fielded by Igor Tudor.

Tottenham Hotspur are back in Premier League action a week on Sunday in a match which will see Roberto De Zerbi manage his new team for the first time.

The Italian is expected to make an immediate switch to a 4-2-3-1 system, which should work much better than Tudor’s experiments.

Here is how De Zerbi’s lineup could look, based on what we already know about the new head coach.

Tottenham’s predicted XI to take on Sunderland

Antonin Kinsky – With Vicario unlikely to be fit until later in the month, Kinsky is likely to start against Sunderland. It will be a big test for the young Czechian, as he will be expected to begin Tottenham’s build-up play from the back. Usually the shot-stopper does this quite well, but this was not the case in Madrid the other week.

Pedro Porro – Spain were unable to defeat Egypt on Tuesday night, but Porro had a very good game. The right-back will be looking to turn this into a run of form for his club, as he looks to get settled under yet another new manager.

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Cristian Romero – Tottenham’s captain has had to do a lot of travelling for the international break, but he will be straight back in the team for De Zerbi’s first fixture. The Argentine will be a focal point for Spurs, both in getting attacks started, as well as showcasing his usual defensive abilities.

Micky van de Ven – There is a chance that De Zerbi will play van de Ven as a left-back, but he did not thrive in this role against Nottingham Forest. No matter where he starts, it will be interesting to see how the Dutchman gets on under the new boss. After all, he probably suffered a bigger decline than any other player when Tudor took charge.

Djed Spence – If van de Ven plays in the middle then Spence is highly likely to start out wide. The England international seems like the kind of player who could benefit from De Zerbi’s attacking style, so he is definitely one to watch.

Archie Gray – Should De Zerbi choose to drop Gray in his first game, he might as well just hand in his notice already. The 20-year-old has been a shining light in what has been a very dark time for Spurs and he should absolutely remain in the starting lineup.

Conor Gallagher – Tottenham’s worst signing of the past year might be a fitting title for Gallagher, at least for now. However, De Zerbi’s system could be exactly what he needs to thrive in the middle of the pitch. The manager has options in Sarr and Bergvall, but he might prefer to pair Gray with a more mature figure.

Mohammed Kudus – Whether Kudus will actually be fit for the Sunderland game remains to be seen, but Spurs do not really have any other options. It is possible Porro would play as a winger again, while one of the strikers could be pushed wide. Hopefully, none of these adjustments are required.

Xavi Simons – With the return of a 4-2-3-1 set-up, Simons should be back in the starting lineup. The midfielder was really good against Atletico Madrid and he could be one of the biggest improvers when De Zerbi takes charge.

Richarlison – Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Munai are both available, but Richarlison is the striker who has scored more goals than any of his teammates this season. De Zerbi will want a centre forward who bangs in goals and the Brazilian has shown he can do this, regardless of the opponent.

Another key Tottenham player has now joined many of his teammates on the treatment table as injuries continue to take their toll on the Lilywhites.

Spurs have seen some improvement in their injury situation of late, with the likes of Destiny Udogie and Lucas Bergvall now having returned to action.

Tottenham could also be boosted by the return of four players after the international break, as Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Yves Bissouma and Mathys Tel are expected to be back in action soon.

However, the new head coach, Roberto De Zerbi, has received some bad news regarding another one of his midfielders.

Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr picks up an injury for Senegal

Pape Sarr has started all of Tottenham’s last five games alongside Archie Gray in central midfield, with the two youngsters showing signs of forging a decent partnership in the middle of the park.

However, Sarr has now suffered an injury blow while on international duty with Senegal, with whom he won the African Cup of Nations two months ago.

The Tottenham man played no part in Senegal’s 3-1 win over Gambia on Tuesday, and it was revealed ahead of the game that he had picked up an injury.

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Pressafrik revealed that the 23-year-old was unavailable due to a shoulder problem, but they did not shed light on the seriousness of the midfielder’s injury or provide a timeline for his return.

What midfield combination will Roberto De Zerbi prefer at Spurs?

Given De Zerbi’s preference for midfielders who look to progress the ball, one would expect Archie Gray to be a nailed-on starter, especially when considering the 20-year-old’s recent form.

The question of who starts alongside Gray is a difficult one to answer. While all of Tottenham’s other midfield options have energy, they arguably lack in terms of technical quality to receive the ball in tight areas and play through the press.

A midfield trio of Sarr, Bergvall and Gray may be De Zerbi’s preference until the return of Rodrigo Bentancur, which is why the Italian would be hoping that the Senegalese star can shake off his shoulder problem quickly.

Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival is very good news for certain members of the Tottenham Hotspur squad, but some might be worried by the manager’s style of play.

Here are the three players who will benefit the most from playing under De Zerbi and three others who could be in trouble.

Lucas Bergvall will enjoy Roberto De Zerbi’s fast paced Tottenham attacks

No Tottenham Hotspur player has looked as lively over the past couple of seasons than Lucas Bergvall.

Whether Spurs are playing exceptionally well or really badly, the young Swede always gives 100 per cent in everything he does.

Bergvall can play with intensity and so he is likely to be a fan of De Zerbi’s pacey attacking play. In fact, the new manager could help the 20-year-old develop into an even better midfielder, especially when it comes to decision-making.

Cristian Romero will be comfortable with De Zerbi’s requirements for his defenders

Being a centre-back under De Zerbi is about more than just making tackles and racking up recoveries. It is also about playing with possession and building the foundation to launch attacks.

Cristian Romero should have no problem adapting to this role, as he is usually an accurate passer of the ball.

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The Tottenham captain likes to move into the midfield areas and start attacks himself. Therefore, he could be exactly what De Zerbi needs.

Mathys Tel could become De Zerbi’s dream winger at Tottenham

Although Mathys Tel sees himself as a striker, he is looking increasingly more promising playing out wide.

The Frenchman has the ability to move quickly and he can take on defenders, which should impress De Zerbi.

Wherever the Italian goes, he usually has at least one forward whose potential gets unlocked and Tel could be that player at Spurs.

But what about the three losers…

Guglielmo Vicario cannot play with the ball at his feet

Guglielmo Vicario has a few notable weaknesses, one of which is that he is not so good in possession. The 29-year-old might not have delivered moments as bad as Fraser Forster’s Carabao Cup errors against Man United, or Antoinin Kinsky’s recent disaster.

However, he is not the type of goalkeeper who is dynamic enough to be starting attacking moves from his own net.

This could be a real problem, as De Zerbi needs someone between the sticks who is confident playing the ball.

Radu Dragusin has the same problem as Vicario at Tottenham

Like Vicario, Radu Dragusin does not possess many qualities required to enact De Zerbi’s modern style of play.

The Romanian consistently looked out of his depth during the Ange Postecoglou era and we could see something similar in the coming weeks.

Then again, will Dragusin actually start any matches? De Zerbi will change Tottenham’s formation to a back four and that could significantly limit the centre-back’s minutes. After all, surely he will not be above Kevin Danso in the pecking order.

Joao Palhinha is not a possession based player

Thomas Frank was a defensive minded manager, yet Joao Palhinha was called out for not being good enough on the ball.

Now imagine what the reaction will be while he is attempting to adapt to De Zerbi’s possession based football.

The Portuguese international could be in for a rough ride, which could ultimately see him return to Bayern Munich this summer.

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender William Gallas has now issued a stark warning to Spurs over the threat of relegation to the Championship ahead of the Premier League run-in.

Tottenham Hotspur’s struggles did not start this season, given their 17th-place finish in the Premier League last term under Ange Postecoglou.

However, the disaster of that campaign was papered over by their Europa League triumph, where they ended a near two-decade run without silverware.

But instead of building on that success, Spurs find themselves in a more precarious position – a single point above the bottom three, battling relegation with seven games left this season.

Tottenham relegation fears raised by William Gallas

Whether they will stay up remains to be seen, but the club has taken drastic steps to ensure Premier League survival, having hired three different managers already this campaign.

The hope will be that the newly appointed Roberto De Zerbi does enough to keep Spurs in the Premier League before they embark on a summer rebuild.

Speaking to Boyle Sports, William Gallas has now warned about the dangers of relegation and how difficult it is to return to the top flight, while also questioning Tottenham’s recent trajectory.

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He said: “Nobody wants to play in the Championship because it is very tough. If you go down into the Championship, you cannot be sure you will go back to the Premier League, at least not straight away.

“Last year, look at what happened to Tottenham. They finished in 17th position and they won the Europa League.

“Everybody was surprised, but that means something is wrong in that club for the last few years. It is not possible. Maybe four years ago they were fighting to be in the top four. Now look at where they are. Something is wrong.”

Spurs face key test under Roberto De Zerbi

De Zerbi definitely has a big task on his hands, as he needs to not only improve performances on the pitch but also raise the spirits of a deflated group of players.

Spurs, however, managed to ensure that the Italian remains committed, as there was no relegation clause included in De Zerbi’s contract.

The former Brighton manager is also understood to be committed to remaining at Tottenham even if they are relegated to the Championship.

As for the Spurs players, it is claimed that they are excited to begin working with De Zerbi as they look to push for Premier League survival.

Tottenham Hotspur have set their sights on an experienced Premier League centre-back, but two other top-flight clubs are also determined to get involved in the race for his signature.

The speculation over Micky van de Ven’s and Cristian Romero’s Tottenham futures have been frenetic, with the pair alleged to be of interest to some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

One can argue that the Dutchman and the Argentine defenders are the two best players in the Spurs squad, although their performances have not shown that this season, and losing either one or both would be a huge blow for the Lilywhites.

Due to the uncertainty over their futures, the North London club have now set their sights on a 26-year-old defender, who has proven himself in the Premier League.

Tottenham battling two Premier League clubs for Pascal Struijk

Sports Boom has revealed that Tottenham view Pascal Struijk as a ‘serious option’ ahead of the summer as the defender is edging closer to the final year of his contract at Elland Road.

The experienced centre-back, who has been at Leeds since 2018, is seen as a ‘ready and reliable’ alternative at the back by Spurs should they be forced to cash in on Van de Ven or Romero.

The report reveals that Unai Emery wants to add a ball-playing centre-back to his squad and is also a big fan of Struijk.

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Aston Villa could make an offer of around £20m for the defender to test Leeds’ resolve, while the player also features near the top of Newcastle United’s transfer wishlist for the summer.

What is Leeds’ stance on Struijk?

Sports Boom explain that the Leeds board view the long-serving defender as a ‘vital part’ of the club’s culture and are not eager to sell him.

However, with Struijk’s current deal running out in 2027, and with the club needing to raise funds for their own transfer pursuits, they would entertain a sale if a big offer arrives.

Daniel Farke’s men do not consider the 26-year-old to be unsellable, and they could be set to open negotiations at the £30m mark.

Tottenham Hotspur were leading the race for a highly-rated Serie A centre-back, but that is no longer the case following recent developments.

As regular readers of Spurs Web would be aware, both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven face uncertain futures at Tottenham, even if the club manage to stay in the Premier League.

Additionally, Spurs are also at risk of losing Luka Vuskovic, who is of interest to some of the biggest clubs in Europe after his outstanding displays on loan at Hamburg this season.

The North Londoners could thus be forced to rejig their backline this summer, and they have set their sights on an experienced Serie A defender.

Tottenham are no longer the front-runners for Evan Ndicka

It emerged a couple of days ago that Tottenham had expressed an interest in landing Evan Ndicka this summer, but the Lilywhites’ pursuit of the Roma star has just got a lot more complicated.

This is according to a new report in Solo la Roma, which reveals that the centre-back is set to be the subject of a major bidding war this summer.

The outlet claims that Spurs had been leading the race for Ndicka since last summer, but Man United have now entered the equation and ‘altered the balance of the negotiations’.

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The Ivory Coast international is also being monitored by Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Besiktas. However, the Red Devils are ‘poised to leapfrog the competition’ as they eye an ‘immediate offer’ for the centre-back.

What fee would Roma demand for Ndicka?

Solo la Roma says that the Giallorossi’s management considers the former Eintracht Frankfurt man a ‘cornerstone’ of their project.

However, Roma’s position remains one of a ‘strategic wait-and-see’, as they need to balance their squad planning with their financial fair play constraints.

It is suggested that the Serie A club would be prepared to accept an offer of around €45m (£39m) for the 26-year-old defender.

Tottenham Hotspur have turned their attention to a young German centre-forward, but they face competition from Arsenal and clubs from abroad.

Goalscoring has been an issue all season at Tottenham, who have not managed to adequately replace Heung-min Son’s consistent numbers in the final third.

One would thus expect the Lilywhites to prioritise adding firepower to their forward line if they do end up staying in the Premier League.

Rumours are doing the rounds that Spurs have already started exploring deals for some strikers ahead of the summer, and another forward has now been added to the club’s shortlist.

Tottenham battling Arsenal and several European giants for Nicolo Tresoldi

Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has now revealed that Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring the situation of Club Brugge striker Nicolo Tresoldi ahead of the summer.

However, they are not the only ones interested, with Arsenal having made an enquiry for the 21-year-old, but not having held any advanced talks over a deal.

Additionally, Tresoldi, who has scored seven times and provided three assists in 34 league outings this term, is also said to be on the radar of Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and top Serie A sides.

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Finally, the journalist asserts that the Belgian club will let their star striker leave for around €25m-€30m (£21.7m-£26m) this summer

Plettenberg wrote on X: “Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen are closely monitoring 21 y/o striker Nicolo Tresoldi. Arsenal have made an enquiry about Tresoldi, but nothing further has developed at this stage and there are currently no advanced talks. Tottenham are monitoring the situation. Top clubs from Italy also keen. Tresoldi is currently valued at €25-30 million.”

Spurs could be set for wholesale changes in the striker department

Randal Kolo Muani is not expected to stay at Tottenham beyond the end of his loan spell this season after failing to hit the expected heights in the Premier League so far.

It has also been reported that Spurs are ready to cash in on Richarlison this summer, even though the Brazilian is currently the club’s top scorer this season.

It thus appears likely that the Lilywhites will rejig their attack this summer, with Roberto De Zerbi likely to want players who fit his system.

Former Tottenham Hotspur Dutch midfielder Rafael van de Vaart has now openly criticised Xavi Simons’ form at Spurs this season.

It has been a difficult season for Tottenham Hotspur, whose struggles have left them in a full-on relegation scrap.

Several players who should be performing at a higher level have looked poor this campaign, making individual mistakes that have proved costly.

In fact, for many fans, the standout performer of the season so far has not been a senior player, with Archie Gray receiving most of the plaudits.

Tottenham star Xavi Simons criticised by Rafael van der Vaart

Rafael van der Vaart has now openly criticised Tottenham’s summer signing Xavi Simons, who has struggled to leave his mark on this Spurs side.

As reported by De Telegraaf, Van der Vaart was speaking on Ziggo Sport’s Rondo, where he questioned Simons’ performances and admitted he expected far more from the 22-year-old.

“He disappoints me,” he said. “I had expected much more from him. He wants so badly to show how good he is. That has the opposite effect.

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“He was the young talent, and everyone was talking about him. He is still playing a bit like that.”

Spurs performances leave doubts over Xavi Simons impact

Simons has not been entirely poor and has shown his quality in games this season. One of his better performances came in the Champions League last-16 second leg tie against Atletico Madrid, where he ran the show and grabbed a brace.

However, so far this campaign, he has managed four goals and five assists in 38 games – well short of the 22 goals and 11 assists in 48 games for PSV, and the 22 goals and 24 assists in 78 games for RB Leipzig.

Van der Vaart, speaking via De Telegraaf, admitted he cannot understand the drop-off in form at Tottenham, referencing Simons’ previous spells in Germany and the Netherlands.

“At Leipzig he really had a good spell. Tottenham is nothing at all. After PSV, he also showed it in the Bundesliga,” he added.

Van der Vaart is not the only one unsure about Xavi Simons. Dutch icon Ruud Gullit has also been watching and has been left with questions as a result.

Speaking about the midfielder’s potential, Gullit suggested there is still uncertainty over his true level.

“He is hyped. I still do not really know how good he could be,” he concluded.