Football FanCast

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.

Man United are reportedly poised to make an 'immediate bid' for a near-£40 million player who Tottenham were in pole position to sign since last summer.

Man United make transfer plans as Carrick closes in on permanent job

The transformation at Old Trafford since Michael Carrick took the reins in January has been one of the most striking stories in English football this season.

Seven wins and just one defeat from ten league games in charge.

His achievements include a climb to third in the Premier League, Champions League qualification looking a near-certainty as things stand and inspiring a squad that looked broken under Ruben Amorim.

David Beckham spoke for many former players when he told talkSPORT the experience of watching United had become considerably more comfortable than it had been at any point in the past decade.

INEOS are watching just as closely.

Sky Sports reported last week that United have not approached a single alternative managerial candidate since Carrick's appointment — an emphatic statement of confidence in a man who officially only holds the job until the end of the season.

With Thomas Tuchel committed to England through the World Cup and Carlo Ancelotti having signed a Brazil extension, the high-profile alternatives have removed themselves from contention.

Carrick is now reported to be firmly among the final three names on the club's shortlist, while TEAMtalk suggest he is the outright frontrunner.

The permanent appointment still won't be confirmed until the summer, but the direction of travel is unmistakable.

That growing certainty about the managerial picture is freeing the recruitment department to plan boldly for what comes next.

Midfield is the clear priority, with Casemiro's contract expiring at season's end and Manuel Ugarte expected to follow him out.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed United are "working hard" on a deal for Sandro Tonali — the Italian midfielder Newcastle value at around £100m — with the Daily Mail reporting the club now has momentum in that pursuit.

A meeting with Bruno Guimaraes' representatives has also been reported, though Romano was measured in his assessment, noting there remains "a long way to go" before any deal materialises with Newcastle holding firm.

However, it is news from Italy today that will particularly catch the attention of Tottenham and United, with the former nursing hopes of signing Evan Ndicka since last summer.

Man United to make 'immediate bid' for Evan Ndicka in blow for Tottenham

According to SoloLaRoma, Man United have now formally entered the race for the 26-year-old Roma centre-back, with Bayern Munich also joining a group of suitors that already features Barcelona, Liverpool, Besiktas and Spurs.

United's entry alters the balance of a transfer pursuit that Spurs had appeared best-placed to win since mid-2025, and were believed to be favourites until now.

Ndicka is a left-footed, physically dominant central defender who joined Roma on a free from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023 — where he was part of the side that won the Europa League a year earlier — and has developed into one of Serie A's most consistent performers.

SoloLaRoma also state that United are 'poised to leapfrog the competition with an immediate bid' for Ndicka.

He has featured 35 times across all competitions this season, scoring five, including in three consecutive league games.

Last season he became the first Roma outfield player since 2004 to play every single minute of every league fixture.

Former manager Claudio Ranieri called him "a warrior" who had been "phenomenal" for the club.

Roma's asking price sits around £39 million, but crucially, the club may be compelled to sell before June 30 due to financial obligations to UEFA — a detail that adds urgency to what is quickly becoming a crowded negotiation.

For United, addressing the centre-back position makes considerable sense.

A left-sided, ball-playing defender of Ndicka's calibre would complement Lisandro Martínez perfectly when fit, and provide competition for Harry Maguire, who is in advanced talks over a new deal.

Spurs spent months as favourites, but they may now find themselves outgunned entirely.

Well, Tottenham Hotspur have had one last roll of the dice, pushing to appoint Roberto De Zerbi after parting ways with Igor Tudor last week.

There's no denying that the north Londoners actually regressed under Tudor's wing, and after being dispatched in their own backyard by relegation rivals Nottingham Forest, languish in 17th-place, just one point ahead of West Ham United, who, it must be said, are in steady form.

De Zerbi is something of a contentious figure, a big, fiery personality, but maybe that's what Tottenham need. After all, he has Premier League experience and an attacking style of football that the players could get behind.

De Zerbi's Premier League record

While De Zerbi has a track record of having a rather short shelf life as a manager, Tottenham could do a lot worse than the Italian, who has been praised for his "unique" brand of possession-focused football by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

Names such as Harry Redknapp, Glenn Hoddle and Tim Sherwood have been bandied about.

Sean Dyche has also emerged as a contender to take the wheel of this sinking ship, but after being sacked by Nottingham Forest earlier this season, the 54-year-old surely isn't the best pick. His unimaginative football goes beyond pragmatic, and though he knows how to get an endangered team out of a pickle, De Zerbi is a galvanising, larger-than-life figure whose tactics the squad could get behind.

While his agressive on-the-ball approach could resonate with the starved Spurs fanbase, it won't work out for every player in the squad, with the club's highest earner actually at risk of being axed.

Spurs' highest earner could be finished after De Zerbi arrives

In January, Tottenham knew that they needed to improve, with their defence porous and their forwards misfiring.

The £36m signing of Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid did little to appease the supporters, and though the Three Lions star has played regularly in Thomas Frank and then Tudor's midfield, he has hardly sparked a turnaround in fortunes.

Here's the problem: Gallagher, 26, has started seven Premier League matches since arriving in January, and though he's yet to create a big chance, he's lost the 9.3 times per game on average and has lost 55% of his duels.

Unable to provide a creative spark from midfield and lacking the kind of combative security that Tottenham need in the middle of the park.

He might have helped make Spurs more compact, but it's difficult to imagine De Zerbi handing the former Chelsea man a pivotal role in his system, which simply will not work to its ball-playing capacity with the Englishman pulling the strings.

Gallagher is an industrious midfielder, someone who has proven themselves in the Premier League in the past. And yet, there's no question that he has limitations in possession, and for him to earn more than any of his teammates in N17 speaks of the lack of leadership and positive direction that seeps right down from the board level.

Tottenham could hit the jackpot with De Zerbi at the helm. Should the Italian steer them away from relegation, his playing style could finally guide the Londoners back into the ascendancy, away from the peril they have been consumed by this season.

However, if that happens, it's hardly likely that Gallagher will be a linchpin in the middle of the park.