Football FanCast

And so, the somewhat controversial appointment of Roberto De Zerbi has been made by the Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy, with the focus in the immediate future on securing Premier League survival across the next seven games.

The Italian - who had initially been keen to wait until the summer before taking charge - has agreed a long-term deal despite Spurs' precarious position, deemed the man to finally lift the club from rock bottom.

The 46-year-old will inherit an injury-hit and rather wounded squad at N17, albeit one that will also need significant overhaul this summer, with compatriot Guglielmo Vicario among those expected to depart.

At the top end of the pitch, meanwhile, the woes of Dominic Solanke - who has scored just six goals this season - should ensure that a new centre-forward is also a priority for De Zerbi and co this summer.

Spurs could strike £55m deal for first De Zerbi signing

While the north London side were languishing even before his exit, Harry Kane's departure in 2023 still feels like a landmark moment for the club, not least considering they waited a year to sign a direct replacement, in the form of Solanke.

The latter man has just 12 league goals since then, while on-loan Frenchman, Randal Kolo Muani, has scored just one top-flight goal all season, that coming in the north London derby defeat last month.

Richarlison, meanwhile, remains the top scorer this term for the Lilywhites, yet a return of just 25 league goals across the last four seasons makes for grim reading for the Brazilian.

De Zerbi and co could now be looking to Richarlison's compatriot, Marcos Leonardo, as a potential upgrade, with SportsBoom reporting that the 22-year-old is a 'number one target' for both Tottenham and Liverpool this summer.

The young marksman is said to be considering an exit from Saudi side Al Hilal, having spent almost two years in the Middle East after signing from Benfica.

The report does suggest that the Pro League outfit are under no pressure to sell, although it would be seen as foolish to turn down a statement offer, with a fee of around £55m likely to be the demand.

Why Leonardo could be De Zerbi's new Pedro

For a manager who seeks to implement an attack-minded set-up wherever he goes, it's no surprise that De Zerbi tends to get the best out of the centre-forwards at his disposal.

At Marseille this season, for instance, an ageing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang enjoyed something of a renaissance with ten goals in 28 games, while back at Brighton, the new Spurs boss oversaw the rise of young Evan Ferguson, who netted 15 times in 60 games during their time together.

That stint with Seagulls also saw De Zerbi get the best out of another rising Brazilian sensation, Joao Pedro, having signed the ex-Watford striker in the summer of 2023.

Pedro, now at rivals Chelsea, scored 20 goals in just 40 games in all competitions during that 2023/24 campaign, alongside registering a further nine assists, having operated both as a centre-forward but also as a second striker in De Zerbi's 4-2-3-1 set-up.

The aforementioned Leonardo could then be De Zerbi's latest, exciting centre-forward project, if Spurs can agree a deal this summer, with the youngster another player who fits the mould as a 'mobile' forward, as the report noted.

Indeed, at just 5 foot 9, Leonardo isn't exactly an old-fashioned number nine in the mould of Ferguson, yet more of a fluid striker like Pedro, while boasting the finishing prowess to match.

Like Chelsea's new number 20 - who started his career at Fluminense - Leonardo first emerged back in his homeland at Santos, scoring 54 goals in 168 games despite his relative youth.

A move to Lisbon followed, yet after scoring eight times in just 24 games for Benfica, he was on his way to Saudi Arabia, since netting 44 times in just 72 outings at Al-Hilal.

The £55m man proved particularly impressive in last summer's Club World Cup, scoring four times in just five games, including a brace against Manchester City in the last-16.

A return to European football, after scoring 15 times this season, potentially seems on the cards, with Leonardo likely to be a perfect fit for De Zerbi, considering Brighton were plotting his signing in 2023, before pivoting to Joao Pedro.

That's not to say the Brazilian will be the second coming of Kane or anything close, but after such mixed fortunes in the striking department, something needs to change at N17 this summer.

Jermain Defoe has backed Roberto De Zerbi to keep relegation-threatened Tottenham in the Premier League after being dazzled by the Italian’s slick style of football.

De Zerbi is "good enough" - Defoe

Former Brighton and Marseille boss De Zerbi is Spurs’ third manager of a miserable season, having been appointed on Tuesday with the club sitting just a point above the drop zone.

Defoe, who is also starting a new role this week after taking charge of National League side Woking, had two spells with Tottenham as a player and also began his coaching career in north London.

“He’s someone that comes in with an unbelievable CV,” Defoe said of De Zerbi, who has also managed Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk.

“When you look at his playing style, as football fans you have to appreciate and enjoy the way they play.

“I remember the (De Zerbi) Brighton team, watching Brighton play thinking, ‘wow, this is the right way to play football’.

“He’s going into a massive football club but he’s someone with a good CV and someone who backs himself.”

Tottenham sacked Igor Tudor on Sunday following one point from five top-flight games during his brief tenure, having only dispensed with Thomas Frank on February 11.

“I just hope this group of players can respond and get the results they need,” continued Defoe.

“A lot of the players haven’t experienced this before, the fans and the club have not been through this situation before.

“Hopefully they can come out of it and with this manager, I’m sure he’s good enough to get the results they need.”

The new manager has a lengthy injury list to contend with, as eight senior players are currently out or doubtful ahead of the trip to Sunderland.

Mathys Tel, Guglielmo Vicario, Ben Davies, Wilson Odobert, Mohammed Kudus, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur could all be absent at the weekend, and another concern has now been added to that list.

Tottenham star withdrawn from international action

Indeed, Senegal star Pape Matar Sarr was withdrawn from their squad to face Gambia on Tuesday just hours after De Zerbi's appointment.

A report from the midfielder's homeland claimed he has suffered a shoulder injury, which is believed to have resulted in him being pulled from training on the day of the game.

Sarr has been crucial for Spurs this season, playing 22 times in the Premier League and nine more in the Champions League, with his ability to play in several positions a godsend for a new manager dealing with a squad in crisis.

De Zerbi may well have to make do without him in his opening match, but it is unclear how long the 23 year-old will be sidelined for.

Tottenham Hotspur have surged into the race to sign a "special" striker, who has emerged as their top target in the wake of appointing Roberto De Zerbi.

De Zerbi joins Spurs on five-year deal

De Zerbi has officially put pen to paper on a five-year deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the new manager has now spoken for the first time since the appointment was confirmed, saying: "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."

The Italian's number one priority is to keep Tottenham in the Premier League, and he could be up against it, given that his side are on a winless run of 13 games, stretching back to a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace near the end of 2025.

A trip to the Stadium of Light is up first for De Zerbi, which is likely to be a difficult task, given that Sunderland have lost just three home games all season, an impressive record for a newly-promoted side.

Should the former Brighton boss be able to keep the Lilywhites in the top flight, the next job will be to strengthen the squad in the summer, and bringing in a new striker is on the to-do list.

Spurs join race for new striker with Richarlison's future uncertain

According to a report from Sports Boom, Tottenham have now identified Al-Hilal striker Marcos Leonardo as their number one target for the summer transfer window, in light of his impressive performances in Saudi Arabia.

Liverpool are also very keen on signing the centre-forward, but a deal could be very expensive, with Al-Hilal expected to hold out for at least £50m - £55m.

Interest in the Saudi Pro League star comes amid doubts about Richarlison's future, with the Brazilian considering a return to his native country this summer.

Lauded as "special" by scout Jacek Kulig, the Al-Hilal star has regularly been on the scoresheet for Al-Hilal this season, netting 15 goals across all competitions.

The Brazilian is averaging 0.77 goals per 90 in the Saudi Pro League, which is more than teammate and former Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema (0.73), and at 22-years-old he could be a solid option as a long-term replacement for Richarlison.

However, Spurs may be hoping the 54-time Brazil international chooses to remain in north London beyond the end of the season, considering he has been one of few bright sparks this season, netting nine Premier League goals.

Roberto De Zerbi. Will the Italian be the captain of a sinking ship at Tottenham Hotspur, or can he lead the Lilywhites clear of the iceberg?

That is the question that will be answered over the next seven Premier League games in north London, with Spurs facing arguably their most pivotal period in decades, such is the predicament they have found themselves in.

After the chaos of Ange Postecoglou, the club hierarchy went for the steady hand of Thomas Frank, before the Dane's demise brought about the drastic, surprise appointment of Serie A firefighter, Igor Tudor.

Now it's the turn of De Zerbi, brought in ahead of schedule by the ENIC regime, to try and revive last season's Europa League winners. So what does his prior Premier League record foreshadow?

What Spurs can learn from De Zerbi's Brighton stint

The Italian's most recent post was, of course, at Marseille, although it is his time at Brighton and Hove Albion that might provide a more telling insight into what Spurs supporters can expect from their man in the dugout.

Having taken over from Graham Potter early on in the 2022/23 campaign, De Zerbi led the Seagulls to a stellar sixth-place finish and an FA Cup semi-final, while securing Europa League football, prior to overseeing a more mixed 11th-place finish in 2023/24.

Only champions Manchester City, alongside Arsenal and Liverpool, bettered Brighton's tally of 72 goals that first year, although their tally of 53 goals conceded was the worst of any team in the top seven.

That season did see De Zerbi's men finish only behind Man City too with regard to xG, while ranking third in the division for average possession per game, highlighting his desire to be a ball-dominant coach.

A Postecoglou-style, attack-minded tactician in that sense, worryingly for Spurs, De Zerbi didn't win any of his first five league games in charge of the south coast side, the type of form that would likely plunge Tottenham toward relegation were it to be repeated.

To avoid such teething issues, the incoming boss needs to ensure he selects the group of players most suited to his unique style, putting notable key figures at risk of exile.

Why £27m Spurs star could be finished after De Zerbi arrival

As noted above, the key element of De Zerbi's philosophy is retaining possession, having spoken in the past of wanting his sides to implement a patient approach in build-up, in order to feed the forward players at the best possible opportunity.

"I wanted to be a protagonist on the pitch. To be a protagonist you have to keep the ball, to have the ball." De Zerbi to The Athletic.

"From it starts the ball possession. I was the No.10. You win the game through the No.10, No.11, No.9 and No.7, because they are the players with more quality. And to show their quality they have to be put in the right situations to play..."

Central to that set-up is the midfield unit, with Moises Caicedo having notably finished sixth on the list of all Premier League players for accurate passes in 2022/23, with teammate Pascal Gros in 14th.

That desire to keep the ball could well hamper Joao Palhinha's chances of regular game time now that De Zerbi is on board, with the Portuguese warrior a far more effective ball winner than he is a deep-lying, midfield metronome.

The on-loan Bayern Munich man does boast that Caicedo-style knack for regaining possession, having averaged 4.6 tackles and interceptions per game this season, just ahead of what the Ecuadorian racked up in 2022/23 (4.2).

That said, he does not boast the passing prowess to go with that defensive nous, having averaged just an 80% pass accuracy rate, well below Caicedo's average of 89%.

Palhinha has shown himself to be something of a box-crasher from midfield, with three goals to date in the top-flight, yet he isn't a creative force from deep, averaging just 0.2 key passes per game - a clear difference from the 1.2 of his ex-Brighton counterpart.

Caicedo, who subsequently secured a club-record deal to Chelsea, might be the cream of the crop, yet he perfectly illustrates the type of all-round midfielder that De Zerbi is after, ensuring it is difficult to see where Palhinha can find a home over the coming weeks.

In the longer term, too, there would have to be doubt over the 30-year-old signing permanently, with a fee of around £27m having been mooted, with the towering midfielder likely to be furious that such a managerial appointment has been made by ENIC, considering the impact it could have on his Spurs future.

Indeed, he might well have been praying for a reunion with his former Fulham boss Marco Silva instead...

Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping that they haven't gone from a firefighter to something of a firestarter, amid the confirmation of Roberto De Zerbi's arrival as the next permanent manager at N17.

The Italian maverick first caught wider attention during an almost two-season stay at Brighton and Hove Albion, prior to exiting in the summer of 2024, following a dispute with owner Tony Bloom over transfer policy.

That departure was followed by a turbulent spell at Marseille, with the 46-year-old's tenure taking in a spectacular bust-up between Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe, while De Zerbi also refused to take training at one stage last season, following a defeat to Reims.

In essence, this is a coach who is not one to mince his words nor stray from his stubborn, albeit progressive principles, with the question remaining as to what his entrance in north London will mean, both for the club's fortunes and the current crop.

Predicting De Zerbi's first starting XI at Spurs

De Zerbi will be facing the same injury crisis that plagued Igor Tudor and his predecessors, with the one-time Sassuolo boss set to be without compatriot Guglielmo Vicario for the foreseeable future, following the goalkeeper's recent hernia surgery.

That should see Antonín Kinsky return, despite his horror night away in Madrid, while ahead of the Czech stopper, the ball-playing style of the incoming boss is likely to favour the usual starting pairing of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

At right-back, De Zerbi may well look to Archie Gray as an inverted option, having utilised young Jack Hinshelwood in a similar role at the Amex, while on the opposite side, it will likely be Djed Spence or Destiny Udogie offering that more natural, box-to-box attacking threat down the left.

Centrally, meanwhile, Gray's shift could allow Lucas Bergvall to take his place alongside Pape Matar Sarr, somewhat mirroring the dynamism and control that were offered by the relatively youthful pairing of Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister during their Brighton pomp.

Ahead of that midfield duo will likely be Spurs' chief playmaker Xavi Simons, with Mathys Tel the clear pick off the right, while the returning Mohammed Kudus should get the nod off the right, fitness permitting.

The clear favourite to lead the line should well be recent England starter, Dominic Solanke, leaving a pool of players perhaps fearing for their future if De Zerbi does implement this style of 4-2-3-1 formation.

The new Ndombele could well be finished at Spurs

Provided he can lift Spurs to safety, a key issue for De Zerbi to solve this summer will be recruitment, with the north Londoners having endured far more hits than misses on that front in recent times.

The obvious example remains that of Tanguy Ndombele's capture back in 2019, with the highly-rated Frenchman joining on a then club-record deal during what proved to be Mauricio Pochettino's final summer in charge.

Ndombele's hefty price tag highlighted the expectation around him, yet despite brief flashes of quality - memorably netting a stunning strike away at Sheffield United under Jose Mourinho - his impact was only seen in fits and starts, scoring just ten goals in 91 games in all competitions.

There might not have been a fee involved in more recent times, although the signing of the midfielder's compatriot, Randal Kolo Muani, certainly evokes a similar feel, with Spurs not exactly getting what they bargained for with regard to the underwhelming striker.

A former World Cup finalist and £76m signing for Paris Saint-Germain, Kolo Muani arrived at N17 off the back of a stellar loan spell at Juventus last term, scoring ten times in just 22 games for the Serie A giants.

That brief purple patch had come with the aforementioned Tudor at the helm, with the striker's brightest moments in a Spurs shirt arguably only coming under the Croatian in recent weeks, be it his north London derby strike or his well-taken header at home to Atletico Madrid.

The arrival of Tudor felt like a chance for Kolo Muani to truly ignite his muted Tottenham career, yet with the 47-year-old now gone, so too are his hopes of ever truly being revitalised.

Indeed, a former Ligue 1 side with Nantes, much like Ndombele at Lyon, the 27-year-old has never looked up to par at Premier League level, with his recent effort against Arsenal having been his one and only Premier League goal to date.

With De Zerbi typically favouring out-and-out wingers on the flanks, such as Kaoru Mitoma or Solly March at Brighton, and with Solanke or Richarlison far more Premier League-proven through the middle, Kolo Muani's hopes of game time may well have now come to an end.

This was simply another high profile signing that hasn't lived up to the billing.

Newcastle United are set to force Tottenham Hotspur's hand in the summer if the Lilywhites are relegated in an attempt to sign a £50m star.

Newcastle to force Tottenham into summer sale

The Magpies are beginning to swoop over Spurs and that's never a good sign. With seven games left to play in the Premier League, those in North London sit just one point above the relegation zone and are on the hunt for their third manager of the season.

Whilst it is looking likely that they'll get their dream option in Roberto De Zerbi, there is no guarantee that he implements his style before it's too late.

In the space of 12 months, Spurs' 'To Dare Is To Do' mantra has turned into do or die and unwanted history could be awaiting - leaving Newcastle to take full advantage.

Of course, it's also not just Spurs' managerial situation which has threatened to steal the headlines as of late. There's growing pressure on Eddie Howe to turn things around at St James' Park following a disappointing campaign.

Following a late defeat at the hands of rivals Sunderland before the international break, Newcastle have been mentioned with De Zerbi themselves but now seem likely to miss out on the Italian courtesy of those in North London.

It will be a frustrating blow if Howe fails to turn things around, though those in Tyneside could at least have the chance to get their own back this summer.

According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Newcastle are set to force Tottenham into the sale of Dominic Solanke if the Lilywhites are relegated from the Premier League this season, with the England star one of many who will leave the North London club if they go down.

Howe needs reunion with "incredible" Solanke

The biggest problem that Howe has faced at Newcastle this season is his frontline. Since the departure of Alexander Isak for a Premier League-record fee, the Magpies boss has failed to find some much-needed balance in his attack and has even dropped Nick Woltemade into midfield.

The German arrived for a club-record price in the summer and was joined by both Yoane Wissa and Anthony Elanga - two players who cost a hefty £55m. They were supposed to be a transformative trio, before going onto score just eight Premier League goals between them with seven games left to play.

In an attempt to fix the situation, it seems as though Howe is willing to turn to an old friend in Solanke. The pair worked together during their time at Bournemouth and both could do with a reunion - especially if Spurs are relegated this season.

Tottenham Hotspur are making plans for the summer transfer window, with ENIC planning to back Roberto De Zerbi after his demands as new manager were revealed.

De Zerbi demands to Spurs hierarchy revealed

Following talks over the past few days, De Zerbi has been convinced to replace Igor Tudor in the dugout immediately, rather than waiting until the summer, with the club announcing the move on Tuesday evening.

There are perhaps some doubts about whether the Italian is the right man for the job, given that Tottenham are in need of a manager capable of making an immediate impact, and Lewis Dunk has made it clear it takes time to get used to the former Brighton manager's methods.

"If I am being honest, the first couple of weeks were horrendous. 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.

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

Spurs have just seven games to save themselves from an unthinkable relegation to the Championship, and given that they are just one point above the bottom three, De Zerbi will need to hit the ground running.

He reportedly has a 'staying up bonus' in his contract, and has also demanded marquee signings in the shape of a new goalkeeper and central defender, but Spurs will not pursue a deal for his former star Mason Greenwood.

ENIC plotting triple transfer raid this summer

According to a report from Turkish Football, Tottenham are now plotting a stunning raid of Galatasaray to sign goalkeeper Uğurcan Çakır, winger Barış Alper Yılmaz, and central midfielder Gabriel Sara, having scouted the latter player extensively.

Çakır is being targeted amid Guglielmo Vicario being linked with a move to Inter Milan, with Antonin Kinsky struggling when he's made the starting XI this season, being withdrawn after just 17 minutes in the first leg of the Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid.

Yilmaz could also be a particularly interesting addition to Spurs' frontline, having performed very well in Turkey and Europe this season, amassing 24 goal contributions across all competitions.

Sara, who operates in central midfield, recently earned his first cap for Brazil, and Tottenham have often lacked options in the engine room this season, with the likes of Yves Bissouma, Rodrigo Bentancur and James Maddison spending time on the sidelines.

Tottenham undoubtedly need to strengthen this summer, but their number one priority at the moment is simply to secure their Premier League status.

Roberto De Zerbi is set to take on the sizeable task of keeping Tottenham in the Premier League after agreeing a deal to move to North London.

De Zerbi joins Tottenham in five-year deal

Spurs turned attention back to De Zerbi after Igor Tudor’s departure on Sunday and, although the former Brighton boss initially preferred to wait until the summer to assess his options, he has performed a U-turn and will take over immediately.

Tottenham had the chance to wait and hire Mauricio Pochettino, who is "keen" to take over, but only after his World Cup campaign with the USA has concluded, forcing the club's hand to focus on the recently departed Marseille manager.

Reports in De Zerbi’s homeland of Italy on Monday morning stated he was now willing to listen to Tottenham’s advances and had a five-year contract offer on the table, with the 46-year-old now confirmed as the club’s fourth head coach in the last ten months.

Tudor’s shambolic 44-day reign produced five defeats in seven matches alongside a catalogue of questionable tactical choices and only increased the realistic threat of a first relegation since 1977.

Journalist Darren Lewis ripped into the decision to hire De Zerbi on Tuesday, telling talkSPORT there isn't a "single thing" that justifies the decision.

"I don't think there is a single thing about De Zerbi's body of work that suggests that at this time you give him a five-year deal.

"I think he, to be fair to him, may well have played a blinder, because they wanted him to come now, he didn't want to come now, he wanted to come at the end of the season, but they don't know where they'll be come the end of the season.

"So he's said 'I'll come if you give me five years'."

The Italian has not only demanded a lengthy deal however, also giving Tottenham a list of demands that includes a survival bonus at the end of this season and a hefty transfer budget.

Tottenham make Mason Greenwood decision

Indeed, Football FanCast sources understand the incoming boss will be in line for a large bonus payment on top of his original deal if Spurs stay up.

He has also demanded significant backing in the summer transfer window, and wants to sign a new goalkeeper and a ball-playing centre-back as top priorities.

Mason Greenwood will not be amongst his targets, with a club source clear they have no interest in the former Manchester United striker and will continue with that stance regardless of his impressive form at Marseille, where he has scored 20 times in all competitions this season.

The Lilywhites leadership is however happy to work with the manager to reshape the squad in his image, with this summer set to focus on recognised first-team additions rather than additional depth, with survival likely to stave off a mass exodus.

The decision to hand the Italian such a lengthy contract and cave to his demands is certainly a risk, but if he keeps Spurs in the Premier League he could pay that back ten fold.

Wolverhampton Wanderers could find it difficult to keep hold of one of their key players this summer, with Tottenham Hotspur recently making an approach.

De Zerbi poised to become new Spurs boss

Roberto De Zerbi was initially hesitant to take over before the summer, with Tottenham teetering just above the Premier League relegation zone, but ENIC have now made a breakthrough, and the Italian is close to replacing Igor Tudor in the dugout.

De Zerbi's first and most important task will be to keep Spurs in the Premier League, and he has seven crucial games coming up, potentially starting with a trip to Sunderland on Sunday.

However, in the summer, the former Brighton boss may want to bring in players to fit his style of play, which has earned plaudits from Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who said: “I regard him as one of the best managers in the world, because in my opinion, that should not always be judged on the amount of trophies you win, it should also be judged on the fact of how you let your team play.”

Spurs make approach to sign "sensational" midfielder

According to a report from Caught Offside, Tottenham and Chelsea have now made contact to sign Joao Gomes, who is set to push hard to leave Wolves at the end of the season, with his side staring down the barrel of relegation.

Manchester United, Newcastle United and Napoli have also asked about the in-demand midfielder, who is expected to cost €40m - €45m (£35m - £39m) if, or when, Wolves are relegated to the Championship, rather than the €60m (£52m) which was quoted previously.

Lauded as "sensational" by journalist Alex Richards, the Brazilian maestro has performed well this season, despite the Old Gold's struggles, averaging a FotMob match rating of 7.03, which is the highest in the squad.

Defending is the 25-year-old's strong suit, with the Wolves star averaging 3.3 tackles per 90 in the Premier League this season, which is more than any Spurs player except Joao Palhinha, who is averaging 4.9.

The fact Gomes' asking price is set to drop in the summer is an added bonus for the north Londoners, who clearly need to strengthen the squad, having underperformed massively this season, and the ten-time Brazil international could be an exciting first signing for De Zerbi.

Alasdair Gold has now dropped a new update on Tottenham Hotspur's manager search, making it clear Roberto De Zerbi wasn't the only option under consideration.

De Zerbi closing in on Tottenham job

De Zerbi is poised to become the new manager of Tottenham, following talks on Monday, with Fabrizio Romano confirming the impending appointment yesterday, saying: "De Zerbi is really, really, really close to becoming the next Tottenham Hotspur manager.

"Here we go, expected soon. Tottenham decided to go all in for De Zerbi with a big financial proposal, a big contract proposal, five-year contract for De Zerbi, a really important salary, one of the best salaries for a manager in the Premier League."

Tim Sherwood has his reservations about his former club appointing the Italian, claiming he is "far from a safe of hands", and that his style of play isn't what Spurs need at this stage of the season, with their Premier League status on the line.

Plenty of other managers were linked with a move to N17, including Sean Dyche, who was under serious consideration at one point, and Adi Hutter, although the former AS Monaco boss recently ruled himself out of contention in a public statement.

ENIC also considered title-winning manager before moving for De Zerbi

In an update from Gold on X, there are "question marks" about whether De Zerbi will be able to implement his play-style quickly enough to save Spurs from relegation, given that they have just seven games to steer themselves to safety.

Gold also claims Andoni Iraola and Maurcio Pochettino were being considered for the summer, and the latter was "keen" on a return to north London following the USMNT's World Cup campaign.

However, with Igor Tudor winning just one of his seven matches in charge, ENIC were forced into appointing a new manager earlier than anticipated, which left De Zerbi, who has been out of work since leaving Marseille last month, as the logical choice.

Of course, appointing Pochettino could've gone some way to getting the fans back on side, given that the Argentinian led Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final, and maintained a solid record throughout his time at the club.

The 54-year-old then went on to win the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain, before a brief spell at Chelsea, but he is still appreciated by Spurs fans, at least judging by the reaction to him on a flight from London to Madrid.

That ship has seemingly sailed, however, and the De Zerbi era could be about to get underway.