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Tottenham Hotspur appointing Roberto De Zerbi as their new men's head coach on a long-term contract has led to the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust releasing another statement

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust believe the club appointing Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach raises serious and far-reaching concerns.

The appointment of De Zerbi will not be universally popular among the Spurs fanbase after three supporter groups on Friday urged the north London club to not appoint De Zerbi due to his past association with Mason Greenwood at Marseille.

Proud Lilywhites, Women of the Lane and Spurs Reach all expressed their concerns with ‘No to De Zerbi’ statements and PA understands Tottenham carefully considered and discussed the comments and sentiments around Greenwood with De Zerbi during negotiations.

Former Manchester United forward Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm over allegations relating to a woman after images and videos were posted online.

The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges in February 2023 owing to “a combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material that came to light”, which meant there was “no realistic prospect of conviction”. Greenwood has since resumed his career and joined Marseille in 2024.

De Zerbi described Greenwood as a "good guy" who had paid a "heavy price" in November. The then-Marseille coach said: "It saddens me what happened in his life, because I know a totally different person than the one who was described."

The Trust responded to Spurs' announcement of the appointment by issuing its own statement soon after. It began: "We note the Club’s announcement of the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi to the Manager role.

"While we recognise the limited pool of managers with recent Premier League experience, and the need to act with urgency as Spurs face the prospect of relegation, this appointment raises serious and far-reaching concerns, and many fans have been in touch with us to urge us to communicate the strength of feeling. We raised these concerns directly with the Club prior to its announcement."

The statement added: "The Club must reassert its commitment to the values that fans hold dear—chief among them equality, respect, and integrity."

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Spurs are said to have carefully considered and discussed the comments and sentiments around Greenwood with De Zerbi during talks. Proud Lilywhites, Spurs Reach and Women of the Lane are three supporter groups who expressed concern before the appointment.

THST's statement continues: "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. 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 Club must reassert its commitment to the values that fans hold dear—chief among them equality, respect, and integrity. With this appointment, communications from the Club and from Mr De Zerbi must clearly and unequivocally reaffirm these values.

"Our preference would have been for a short-term appointment of an individual or individuals who understand the Club and can lead the players in the seven battles to come. There would then have been an opportunity in the summer to attract a wide range of potential applicants with a track record of success in inspiring fans and players: candidates who could lead and develop sustained success for the team, for seasons to come.

"The Club has chosen otherwise. We will continue to support efforts to get behind the team and play our part in preserving the Club’s Premier League status, but it is understandable that many fans will do so with a heavy heart.

"Our Five Principles for Spurs ownership include Leading with Integrity and Championing Ethical Standards. At present, supporters rate performance in this area at just 2.2 out of 10. This decision risks further eroding confidence unless addressed with clarity, humility, and decisive action.

"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."

Roberto De Zerbi is looking to turn Tottenham's fortunes around after agreeing to replace Igor Tudor

Roberto De Zerbi's primary objective is clear, he must keep Tottenham in the Premier League.

With just seven matches to play, he must accumulate enough points to finish ahead of either Nottingham Forest or West Ham, or both, assuming Burnley and Wolves are already doomed.

The Italian will receive a lucrative survival bonus if he saves Spurs, and this summer will provide him with the opportunity to wipe the slate clean.football.london analyses five things he must do to stand a chance of avoiding relegation to the Championship.

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Revive form of Romero and Van de Ven

Among Tottenham's most-pressing issues is the form of centre-back duo Cuti Romero and Micky van de Ven.

Romero, through suspensions, has missed a considerable chunk of the campaign while Van de Ven is a shadow of his former self.

The Dutchman's performances have been notably poor while Romero's effort was scrutinised in the recent 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

There is no doubt that on their day, these are two of the best central defenders in the Premier League. But based on this season, their Tottenham reputation has been plunged into turmoil.

There is still time to fix that and Roberto De Zerbi must find a way to make the pair cornerstones of this Spurs team again because opposition attackers no longer fear them.

Unify a disgruntled fanbase

Spurs fans packed out the Tottenham High Road before the Forest defeat but were badly let down following a miserable sub-par performance.

It's going to be hard for him to win over the entirety of the club's fanbase given supporters' groups have already opposed the Italian's arrival due to comments about his former player Mason Greenwood during their time together at Marseille.

If he's not going to be wholly accepted, he must win the trust of supporters via performances and results.

That means getting off to the best possible start, starting with Sunderland on April 12.

Managing injured players correctly

Tottenham desperately need their injured stars back available but they cannot rush their returns.

Mohammed Kudus and Rodrigo Bentancur are among those closing in on comebacks, however, they need to rebuild their fitness gradually to avoid any potential setbacks.

There will be huge clamour for the introductions of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, both still yet to kick a ball for Spurs this season, but throwing them into a relegation battle after months on the sidelines is not a straightforward proposition.

Maddison is on track to return this season but strengthening an ACL following surgery is a complex process and there cannot be any temptation to throw him back in too early.

Kulusevski's situation is also delicate and still, it's not yet clear whether he even has a clear chance of returning before the end of May, one year on from his patella injury.

Transform home struggles

Tottenham's last Premier League home win came against Brentford back in December and that must change immediately.

Their home record in the top-flight this season is two wins, four draws and 10 defeats, which is nowhere near good enough.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was supposed to transform the trajectory of this team and it was meant to be a fortress for Spurs.

But this season it's been arguably their biggest problem and losing 3-0 to a fellow relegation rival in Forest in absolutely unacceptable.

Turn things around at home, Spurs host Brighton, Leeds and Everton before the end of the season, and they will give themselves a real chance of survival if they also collect some points on the road.

Get forwards firing

De Zerbi's Brighton were a force to be reckoned with and in his first season at the helm, they made a habit of scoring plenty of goals against the Big Six.

They stuck three past Liverpool twice, beat Chelsea 4-1 and romped to a 3-0 win over Arsenal at the Emirates.

His teams are renowned for playing exciting, front-foot football and that's what Spurs need to do to get results and beat the drop.

Spurs lack ruthless goalscorers but if he can get a tune out of Dominic Solanke, Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani there's enough firepower in the squad to cause the opposition big problems.

Tottenham have scored more goals than eighth-placed Everton yet there's still a sense they could do better in attack, which has to be a key focus moving forward.

Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their new manager following the departure of Igor Tudor

Tottenham Hotspur have a new manager at the helm and have a busy fixture list to contend with when they return to the pitch. Spurs confirmed on Tuesday that Roberto De Zerbi has been appointed as the club’s new boss following the departure of Igor Tudor over the weekend.

It was confirmed that Tottenham have appointed De Zerbi on a long-term deal that will beyond the end of the season, following speculation that another interim could have been given the job.

De Zerbi moves to north London in his first return to the Premier League since leaving Brighton in 2024, and less than two months since his departure from his previous job, where he was manager of Ligue 1 club Marseille.

Spurs now face the task of avoiding relegation from the Premier League, with seven fixtures remaining this season, to prevent themselves from dropping into the Championship.

Going into the international break, Tottenham found themselves in 17th place in the Premier League table and just one point above the drop zone.

Tottenham are now back in Premier League action until the middle of April, with Spurs not having a game this weekend due to not being involved in the quarter-final of the FA Cup.

Instead, De Zerbi and Tottenham will look ahead to April 12 when they return to Premier League duties, which will involve an away trip to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland.

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The upcoming run of five matches will see Spurs go away from home three times, but one of their home matches will see them host De Zerbi’s former club, Brighton, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With that said, football.london takes a look at Tottenham's next five Premier League fixtures with De Zerbi as their new manager.

Tottenham Hotspur’s next five Premier League fixtures

Sunderland (A) - Sunday, April 12 (2pm).

Brighton (H) - Saturday, April 18 (3pm).

Wolves (A) - Saturday, April 25 (3pm).

Aston Villa (A) - Saturday, May 2 (12:30pm).

Leeds United (H) - Saturday, May 2 (TBD).

West Ham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Wolves (H) - Friday, April 10 (8pm)

Crystal Palace (H) - Monday, April 20 (8pm)

Everton (H) - Saturday, April 25 (3pm)

Brentford (A) - Saturday, May 2 (3pm)

Arsenal (H) - Saturday, May 9 (TBD)

Nottingham Forest’s next five Premier League fixtures

Aston Villa (H) - Sunday, April 12 (2pm)

Burnley (H) - Sunday, April 19 (2pm)

Sunderland (A) - Friday, April 24 (8pm)

Chelsea (A) - Monday, May 4 (3pm)

Newcastle United (H) - Saturday, May 9 (TBD)

Tottenham have confirmed the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach.

De Zerbi, 46, who had been out of work after leaving Marseille in February, has signed a lucrative five-year contract at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. With that, the Italian is reported to have become the third-highest paid manager in the Premier League behind Arsenal's Mikel Arteta and Manchester City's Pep Guardiola.

He has replaced Igor Tudor, who was sacked on Sunday following a disastrous 44-day reign in north London, and has been first tasked with keeping the club in the Premier League.

Tottenham have endured a horrendous season so far and sit 17th in the table, just one point and one place above West Ham in 18th. Indeed, Spurs have failed to win any of their last 13 top-flight matches and there is now a real danger that they could be relegated to the Championship.

De Zerbi has seven games to preserve Tottenham's top-flight status, with his first competitive game as the club's head coach scheduled to be a trip to Sunderland on Sunday, April 12.

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Speaking after his appointment, De Zerbi said: "I am delighted to be joining this fantastic football club, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious in the world.

"In all my 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. I am here because I believe in that ambition and have signed a long-term contract to give everything to deliver it.

"Our short-term priority is to climb the Premier League table, which will be the complete focus until the final whistle of the last game of the season. I’m looking forward to getting out on the training pitch and working with these players to achieve that."

Tottenham sporting director Johan Lange added: "Roberto was our number one target for the summer and we are very pleased to be able to bring him in now.

"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."

De Zerbi started his managerial career at Italian side Darfo Boario in 2013. He then spent time at Foggia, Palermo and Benevento before establishing himself at Sassuolo, where he cemented them as a competitive Serie A outfit and earned a move to Champions League Shakhtar Donetsk in 2021.

But De Zerbi would spent just one season in Ukraine before leaving and then moving to Brighton in 2022. He did a terrific job at the Amex Stadium, guiding them to a sixth-place Premier League finish in his first season and securing a spot in Europe for the first time in the club's history.

While his second season wasn't as successful, De Zerbi helped Brighton through the group stage of the Europa League before they were knocked out in the Round of 16 against Roma. He quit the Seagulls at the end of the 2023/24 season after an agreement was reached to terminate his contract.

De Zerbi was appointed as Marseille's new manager in June 2024 and he made quite the impact at the French club, leading them to a second-place finish in his first season. But De Zerbi struggled to replicate that and was sacked in February after exiting the Champions League and a 5-0 defeat to rivals Paris Saint-Germain.

Tottenham have confirmed that their post-tax loss increased to £94.7million in the period ending 30 June 2025.

In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, the club revealed that the loss for the year after depreciation, amortisation, player trading, interest and taxation has risen more than 260 per cent from £26.2m to £94.7m. This is despite total revenue and other income increasing to £565.3m during the reporting period.

A statement from Spurs read: "The Club has today published its financial results for the year ended 30 June 2025. Total revenue and other income increased to £565.3m during the reporting period, driven by our Europa League success alongside strong commercial performance across sponsorship, merchandising and stadium events.

"However, the domestic on-pitch under-performance of both our Men's and Women's teams during the reporting period had a direct impact on TV and Media revenues. The loss for the year after depreciation, amortisation, player trading, interest and taxation increased to £94.7m."

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Dissecting Tottenham's financial results, match receipts rose by almost 20 per cent from £105.8m to £126.5m. The club say that was driven by the increased number of matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Looking at UEFA prize money, Spurs banked £34.7m after winning the Europa League. It was a significant rise on the £1.3m earned from 2023/24 considering the club didn't have European football that season.

But TV and media revenues decreased by 23 per cent from £165.9m to £127m, following Tottenham's 17th-place finish in the Premier League.

Commercial revenues and other income from sponsorship, merchandising and other income such as stadium events, visitor attractions, pre-season tour and conference and events, meanwhile, went up from £255.2m to £277.1m.

Before player trading, operating expenses increased by 15 per cent from £453.6m to £521.5m, driven by staff costs, hosting more football matches and stadium events and our continued technological advancements.

Overall, profit from operations before depreciation, amortisation, player trading, interest and taxation decreased by 22 per cent from £144.9m to £112.3m.

Tottenham finished the statement by revealing the club's net debt as of 30 June 2025 increased from £772.5m to £831.2m. They say "over 90 per cent" of their financial borrowings of £851.7m are at fixed rates, with an average interest rate of 3.07 per cent.

"The average maturity of all our borrowings is 17.6 years, some of which stretch until 2051, ensuring limited impact on the Club’s financial sustainability," Tottenham said.

"As with prior years no dividends have been paid."

On the pitch, Tottenham are facing the threat of relegation down to the Championship. Indeed, with seven matches to go, Spurs, who face Sunderland next up, sit 17th in the Premier League table, just one point and one place above 18th-place West Ham, who sit in the final relegation spot.

Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange have been tasked with appointing a head coach who will keep Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

The next Tottenham Hotspur manager could welcome three big names back to the matchday squad ahead of the end-of-season Premier League run-in. In just under two weeks, the Lilywhites will head down the home straight of the relegation battle when they lock horns with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

With just seven games left to play, only a point – and a hefty goal difference – separates Tottenham from West Ham in the bottom three. After mutually parting ways with Igor Tudor, Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange have been tasked with appointing a manager who will keep Spurs in the English top-flight.

football.london understands that the Lilywhites expect to appoint a head coach in the coming days. Tottenham want somebody in place to welcome back those who reported for international duty, giving the squad sufficient time to prepare for the trip to the North East on April 12.

It's also understood that Spurs are in advanced talks with Roberto De Zerbi about the vacant position. The Italian, who left Marseille earlier this season, was initially reluctant to take the job before the end of the season, despite being keen on a return to the Premier League.

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However, it's said that there's a growing willingness from both parties to get a deal over the line. If De Zerbi were to take the reins at Tottenham, he'd have just under two weeks to acclimatise himself at Hotspur Way before leading his new squad into battle.

Although Sunderland may fancy their chances against Spurs, having won the Tyne-Wear derby just before the international break, Spurs could welcome three big names back to the matchday squad: Mohamed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur and Mathys Tel.

Kudus suffered a hamstring injury in January, and he's yet to return to action. Speaking to reporters ahead of Tottenham's clash against Nottingham Forest earlier this month, Tudor suggested the winger could return to partial first-team training before April.

Bentancur underwent surgery on a hamstring injury in January. The former interim Spurs boss put the midfielder in the same bracket as Kudus, claiming that he, too, has been making good progress with his recovery.

Tel suffered a knock during the defeat to Forest just before the international break, and was forced to come off. The forward later withdrew from international duty, having been called up by the France Under-21s.

Elsewhere, Ben Davies underwent surgery for a fracture of his left ankle at the start of the year. As it stands, it remains unclear whether the defender will return before the end of the season, however, he has been mooted as a potential short-term fix in the dugout.

James Maddison has also been stepping up his preparations ahead of a potential return before the end of the campaign. The midfielder, who ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the summer, has recently returned to first-team training as he looks to rebuild his match fitness.

Yves Bissouma has been nursing a muscle injury. After missing a large chunk of the season with a knee problem, the midfielder played eight Premier League games in a row before returning to the sidelines.

As for Dejan Kulusevski, he remains out with a complicated knee injury. As does Wilson Odobert, who ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last month.

Tottenham are in talks with Roberto De Zerbi but could be presented with one immediate issue if he is appointed as Igor Tudor's successor in north London

Tottenham could face 'carnage' should Roberto De Zerbi take charge of the club's bid for Premier League survival. The north London club may want to heed the words of Brighton defender Lewis Dunk when the Italian was still in charge of the Seagulls.

De Zerbi is in line to take over Spurs following Igor Tudor's exit. The club engaged in advanced talks with the ex-Marseille boss and have proposed a lucrative deal, though discussions still must take place over De Zerbi's backroom team.

If the 46-year-old accepts Tottenham's five-year offer, he must hit the ground running with a side that has not won a Premier League match in 2026. But De Zerbi's first weeks in charge of a new club can be a nightmare, such is the difference in his approach.

Speaking in 2023, Brighton star Dunk revealed how difficult the adjustment was when De Zerbi came in following Graham Potter's exit. “If I am being honest, the first couple of weeks were horrendous…" Dunk told the Telegraph.

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"I wouldn’t say horrendous, they were baffling. The first meeting when he went in, I was so confused – who to look at, what to listen to, and you slowly pick up. Basically don’t listen to the manager, wait for the translator to speak and you get there in the end.

“Training changed dramatically. We worked on a lot of different stuff and the first couple of weeks were a really hard transition.

"We were fourth in the league when Graham left and we were flying with him and it was a strange time for him to go and then Roberto came in and it was a carnage two weeks.”

With just seven matches remaining and Tottenham in 17th place with West Ham one point behind, De Zerbi will need to get off to a fast start at Hotspur Way. Not doing so could prove disastrous for the Lilywhites.

But if they are able to navigate that period, Spurs' stars could reap the rewards if they undergo a journey like that of Dunk. “I see football in a completely different way, I picture it in a different way and that is the biggest thing," Dunk added on his experience.

"Football is not what I thought it was. Just how we play now. The idea of what I did before, I thought it made sense. But when you learn something completely different, you believe in it and this makes sense. You think ‘why didn’t I know this?’ and ‘why didn’t I do this before?’

“The style of play, really. And when to release the ball. All our games now are about pressure, playing with opposition teams when they’re pressing high and pressing low. When to pass the ball, the timing of that and the timing of movement. Before, I didn’t really know about that. It’s all about the finer details."

Tottenham are in advanced negotiations with former Brighton and Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi over a five-year deal to take charge immediately in their Premier League relegation battle

Roberto De Zerbi has been presented with a five-year contract proposal by Tottenham. The relegation-imperilled Spurs have issued an urgent call to the former Brighton and Marseille manager in a desperate bid to avoid demotion.

Tottenham were engaged in advanced talks with De Zerbi on Monday, having proposed a lucrative deal for him to assume control immediately rather than delay until the summer. It's understood that they've progressed as far as deliberating over the specifics of De Zerbi's backroom staff, given the Italian's reputation for maintaining a substantial support team.

De Zerbi may opt for a smaller staff, but with a clear mandate to rescue Spurs with just seven matches remaining, and the potential of being in the drop zone by the time a new manager steps in. Tottenham aim to appoint a new boss by the time their players return from international duty this week, allowing ample time to familiarise themselves before their next fixture at Sunderland on 12 April.

West Ham play two days prior, and should they triumph over Wolves, it would thrust Tottenham into the bottom three and place them in grave danger of relegation. This urgency prompted them to expedite their plans regarding De Zerbi, who was already on their summer shortlist, as relegation would spell disaster for one of the Premier League's most prominent and longstanding clubs.

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They are believed to have extended a substantial offer to De Zerbi, viewing him as a top-tier coach capable of instilling discipline in the squad and providing a significant new-manager boost.

Tottenham's previous appointment of Igor Tudor proved disastrous as the Croatian failed to secure a single Premier League victory during his 44 days as interim manager. The club parted ways on Sunday, but not before Tottenham identified De Zerbi as their primary target with a definitive strategy to secure his services, with plans to pursue a former player or manager possessing Premier League credentials should negotiations collapse.

Spurs are also aware of potential controversy as at least three supporters' groups have openly condemned De Zerbi for his backing of ex-Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood while managing at Marseille.

Former Spurs midfielder Tim Sherwood, who also took charge of the club in the past, emerged as one candidate under consideration, but he has endorsed De Zerbi as a strong option should his former side complete the deal.

Sherwood told Sky Sports: "I love his personality and the way his teams play. 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.

"We saw his Marseille team play against Liverpool with an open style. He opens up the pitch, it's expansive the way he plays.

"We know how stubborn this man is. This man is hard to deal with, but I like him for that because he's got his own mind and 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 to have taking them forward. The main priority is just to keep them in the league."

Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with a return to Spurs and he has responded to speculation that he is in talks with his ex-employers

Mauricio Pochettino has revealed he has held "no talks" with Tottenham amid speculation linking him with a sensational return to north London.

United States head coach Pochettino, 54, was speaking ahead of his nation's friendly against Portugal when he was asked about the vacant position at Tottenham following Igor Tudor's departure on Sunday.

Tudor, 47, was dismissed after a dreadful 44-day reign that saw him win just one of his eight matches across all competitions and that came in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid. The Croatian failed to win a single Premier League game during his time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, picking up one point from a possible 18.

With Tottenham sitting in 17th and just one point and one place above the relegation zone, ex-Spurs boss Pochettino has been linked with coming in amid the fight to avoid the drop, though Roberto De Zerbi has emerged as the favourite to take over.

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And on Monday, the Argentine was asked about whether he has held talks with Tottenham amid the club's search for a new manager. "No talks," a defiant Pochettino replied. "We are very very focused here on the World Cup.

"Everyone knows that I have a commitment with the national team here. It’s not the point to talk about the future. No one approached me. But who knows what is going to happen. And by the way, we are open [to staying with the USMNT], why not if the federation is happy?"

Pochettino was appointed as the USA's national team manager in September 2024. The former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain manager has since been preparing the USMNT for hosting this summer's World Cup, and has established a mixed record during his time at the helm, winning 13 and drawing two of his 24 matches.

USA are due to face Senegal and Germany in further warm-up matches before the World Cup, where they will take on Paraguay, Australia and another nation that is to be confirmed.

Although Pochettino poured cold water on him becoming the next Tottenham manager, he did talk about the club's hopes of avoiding relegation and staying in the Premier League.

When asked if he believes Spurs will remain in the top flight, Pochettino replied: "Yes, they can stay up. Of course, it's a difficult time, but they have the capacity to win, with or without a new coach."

De Zerbi is the outright favourite to replace Tudor and become the new Spurs head coach. Reports have suggested that the Italian has agreed to a five-year contract and is expected to take over ahead of their next game, a Premier League trip to Sunderland on Sunday, April 12.

Tottenham are in talks with Roberto De Zerbi over the manager potentially returning to the Premier League after parting ways with Igor Tudor.

Tottenham have reportedly issued Roberto De Zerbi a 48-hour ultimatum regarding their managerial vacancy. The Italian has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed Igor Tudor as Spurs desperately seek to avoid the drop.

Tudor departed the club by mutual consent on Sunday, having failed to register a single victory across his five Premier League matches at the helm. The Croatian was brought in on a temporary basis to replace Thomas Frank, yet Spurs have continued to slide deeper into relegation trouble since his appointment.

The north London side are currently 17th in the table, a solitary point above the bottom three. The club are keen to appoint a new manager before their players return from international duty, with De Zerbi now in advanced discussions over the position.

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The former Brighton manager was initially reluctant to take the job before the summer, but has since warmed to the prospect of taking charge on a permanent basis.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Tottenham have handed De Zerbi an 'ultimatum' during negotiations, giving the Italian 24-48 hours to deliver a definitive response to their proposal.

The report further states that 'until yesterday, the answer was always no', before noting that 'things have changed now'.

De Zerbi is reported to be weighing up the offer and the potential advantage of an immediate appointment should he successfully guide Spurs to safety.

Should the 46-year-old take the reins at Tottenham, his first match in the dugout would arrive on Sunday, 12 April, when Spurs travel to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light (2pm kick-off).

Prior to that fixture, Tottenham could find themselves dragged into the relegation zone, with 18th-placed West Ham entertaining Wolves at the London Stadium on Friday night.

Victory for the Hammers would lift them above Tottenham and send them tumbling into the bottom three. However, Tottenham would hold a game in hand over their fellow relegation-threatened sides.

The potential appointment of De Zerbi follows three Tottenham supporters' groups releasing statements opposing the move.

The backlash stems from the manager's remarks regarding Mason Greenwood, whom he managed during his time at Marseille.