Football FanCast

There was to be no third season or third act for Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur, with the Aussie coach having been ruthlessly dismissed following the club's Europa League triumph in Bilbao.

That shift was a factor in Spurs' dismal 17th-place finish, although, regardless, the experienced coach had nowhere to hide after a season in which he'd overseen a staggering 22 top-flight defeats.

Whether replacing the 60-year-old was the right call or not remains up for debate, although it's fair to say the Lilywhites have sunk even lower in his absence, ensuring they are heading for yet another crucial crossroads this summer.

The future of Igor Tudor is of course the more immediate and pressing issue, but in the long-term, ENIC need to get it right with regard to Thomas Frank's long-term successor.

It feels a matter of when and not if Tudor will be replaced at N17, even if it has all gone a little quiet on that front in recent days, with there understandably no rush for a decision to be made, not least with the Croatian's father having sadly passed away at the weekend.

Respect needs to be shown to the 47-year-old in the wake of such awful news, although the mutterings are that talk is going on behind the scenes regarding the end of his interim tenure and the naming of a successor.

There has been suggestion that free agent Roberto De Zerbi is ready to take the reins in the immediate future, although contrary reports have also indicated that the Italian would rather wait until the end of the season before making the move.

Indeed, there does appear to be a growing list of candidates in the frame heading into this summer, with a new name having been mentioned in the form of Galatasaray boss, Okan Buruk.

As per Italian outlet TuttomercatoWEB, the 52-year-old is on Spurs' summer shortlist - alongside De Zerbi and Marco Silva - with his contract set to expire with the Istanbul giants in June.

The north Londoners aren't alone in their admiration for him, however, with Serie A side Lazio also in the frame, alongside Saudi Pro League outfit, Al-Ittihad.

Why Buruk could be another Postecoglou at Spurs

There's no denying that Spurs have tried it all with regard to recent managerial appointments, going down the Premier League proven route with regard to Frank and Nuno Espirito Santo, as well as bringing in serial winners in the form of Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho.

For all his flaws, however, it was Postecoglou who ended the club's lengthy trophy drought, having also overseen an encouraging first season that ended with a respectable fifth-place finish - a solid achievement considering the Tottenham hierarchy didn't actually sign a direct replacement for Harry Kane that summer.

Postecoglou may also have been aware that he was hardly the club's first choice, with then-Feyenoord boss Arne Slot having been the leading candidate at one stage, while the likes of Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann and Ruben Amorim were all in the equation.

He managed to secure silverware regardless, with Spurs' gamble on a man with no prior Premier League experience having paid off to some degree.

In many ways, the hiring of Buruk could be something of a repeat scenario, with the Turkish tactician likely to be another wildcard appointment, having never managed outside of his homeland since beginning his coaching career back in 2013.

In Postecoglou's case, the well-travelled coach had won league titles in Australia, Japan and Scotland, breeding a winning mentality that ultimately was replicated in north London.

Buruk - who typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 set-up - has also had that winning feeling during his time in Turkey thus far, winning three league titles with Galatasaray, while looking on course to make it four-in-a-row this time around.

Perhaps more impressively, however, was his achievement of leading Istanbul Basaksehir to the Super Lig title in 2019/20, the first time the club had ever been crowned champions.

He might not be the glamour name of De Zerbi or even Mauricio Pochettino, with the pair likely to be ahead of him on ENIC's shortlist, although like Postecoglou, Buruk has proven he is a winning manager, and one who typically favours a high-press, high-energy approach from his teams.

There is a relentless quality to his tactical set-up, one which Spurs have seen first-hand, with Gala putting on a rampant display in their 3-2 win over Postecoglou's side in the Europa League last season.

He may not be the obvious, popular choice, just as Postecoglou was not, yet Buruk certainly shouldn't be overlooked this summer.

Fabrizio Romano has suggested that a new attempt from Tottenham to appoint a very highly-rated manager isn't out of the question.

Spurs identify managerial targets as Igor Tudor faces imminent axe

Everything at Tottenham is in a real state of flux right now.

Igor Tudor is reportedly heading for the exit after one of the most calamitous interim spells in the club's recent history — overseeing just one win in all competitions since taking charge.

A 3-0 battering at home to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest was the final straw, and reports suggest that a departure by mutual consent looks the most likely conclusion, allowing the Croatian to step away with dignity while the club prepares for what comes next.

The question of who that is has rarely been murkier.

L'Equipe in France reported earlier this week that talks with Adi Hutter have begun, the Austrian coach who has been out of work since leaving Monaco in October, and he is now a frontrunner for a short-term appointment.

TEAMtalk also claimed that formal contact has been made, and Hutter himself is keen to take the job.

Further up the managerial food chain, Mauricio Pochettino remains an emotional and obvious long-term fit — but he will be managing the United States at the World Cup until at least July, making any immediate appointment essentially impossible.

Marco Silva has also been discussed internally, Romano confirmed via social media.

Andoni Iraola, who leaves Bournemouth at the end of his contract this summer, could be an option too, but none of them solve today's problem.

Which brings everything back to an Italian who is at the centre of this entire saga.

Roberto De Zerbi — the man Arne Slot has called one of the best managers in the world, the man Chelsea star Joao Pedro dubbed a "top three" manager on the planet, and a coach who turned Brighton into a force and guided Marseille to second in Ligue 1 — remains a dream target for the Lilywhites.

Fabrizio Romano suggests Tottenham could make new Roberto De Zerbi attempt

Transfer insider Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel and transcribed by GiveMeSport, has provided the latest on Spurs and De Zerbi.

He has maintained his position throughout, insisting the focus has always been on the summer.

De Zerbi would consider the Tottenham role from June — but only if the club preserve their Premier League status.

"If Tottenham stay in the Premier League, to get the job at the end of the season is something that Roberto De Zerbi would consider," Romano said.

"That remains the focus."

But the crucial addition in Romano's latest update is the door he has left ajar.

Over the last four to five weeks, De Zerbi has not opened the doors to an immediate mid-season appointment. As things stand, nothing has changed. Yet, Romano added:

"Let's see if Tottenham decide to make one more attempt for De Zerbi now."

That single line changes the dynamic.

It suggests that while De Zerbi's position has been consistent — summer, not now — Spurs have not entirely given up on convincing him to act sooner.

The possibility of a relegation break clause deal was floated by The Times earlier in the week, though reservations existed on the Tottenham side.

Whether a further, more compelling approach might shift De Zerbi's thinking remains an open question.

For a club one point above the drop zone with seven games to play, the answer cannot wait much longer.

At the same stage of the season two years ago, Tottenham Hotspur went into the March international off the back of a crushing 3-0 defeat to Fulham, a result that looked set to have real repercussions for the climax of the campaign.

There's a similar feel in the present day, although the final outcome could be very different.

In 2023/24, for instance, that loss at Craven Cottage set the tone for a climax to the season that would end with Ange Postecoglou's side in fifth, narrowly missing out on Champions League football.

As for 2025/26, Sunday's crushing home defeat to Nottingham Forest could set the Lilywhites even further down the path toward relegation, with the club's fortunes having declined so drastically in the space of just two years.

Igor Tudor, despite his turbulent tenure, is certainly not to blame for that descent, but he is the man in the crosshairs right now, with a change in the dugout seemingly inevitable.

Spurs managerial target now ready to replace Tudor immediately

In line with Rory Smith's work in the Observer this week, in an era of sporting directors and long-term projects, the status of a manager has been stripped away, no longer the omnipresent figureheads like in the days of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.

Managers still matter, of course, but increasingly they seem the symptom of a club's problems rather than the cause, merely someone to take the blame for the failings above them.

Tudor, in that sense, is just the latest post-Mauricio Pochettino manager in north London to have become the target or scapegoat for wider problems, albeit with it hard to look past the Croatian's dismal return of just one point from five Premier League games in charge.

The 47-year-old's departure has not yet been confirmed in the wake of Sunday's loss, although it appears to be on the horizon, with the i paper reporting that Roberto De Zerbi is ready and waiting to take his place at N17.

Despite reports to the contrary, their belief is that the Italian is 'ready to get his hands dirty' and lift Tottenham away from danger, with the Tottenham hierarchy said to be contemplating hiring him 'immediately'.

De Zerbi, following his dismissal from Marseille last month, is said to be 'refreshed' and keen to get back into work as soon as possible, with discussions taking place behind the scenes regarding Tudor's future in the dugout.

Why Spurs target would be a big upgrade on Adi Hutter

As the report above also outlined, another man to have been linked with the job is fellow free agent, Adi Hutter, with the 56-year-old having been out of work since his own Ligue 1 exit from Monaco last year.

A more experienced and proven coach than Tudor, Hutter could very well represent an upgrade on the current interim boss, but is he really what Spurs are in need of?

Having been stung by appointing a manager with no Premier League experience, to repeat that move would almost be bordering on laughable, with Spurs having seven games left to play to save themselves from disaster.

Whether De Zerbi is any better qualified to be the 'firefighter' that the north Londoners need is up for debate, although his prior work at Brighton and Hove Albion would make him a far better pick than the left-field Hutter.

Of course, De Zerbi has the tendency to add fuel to the fire, as seen in his turbulent time at the Stade Velodrome, although he largely oversaw a positive spell at the Amex, prior to departing after a dispute with owner Tony Bloom over the club's transfer policy.

In a sense, perhaps the Italian was right to have fought back against Bloom's approach, with the Seagulls having not exactly kicked on since his 2024 summer exit, after two mixed seasons under the youthful Fabian Hurzeler.

It was De Zerbi who led the south coast side into the Europa League, finishing sixth and 11th in his two campaigns at the helm, boasting a creditable record of 97 points from 70 Premier League games, while utilising his favoured, yet flexible, 4-2-3-1 formation.

Even for all the chaos at Marseille, the 46-year-old still led the French side to a second-placed finish in 2024/25, prior to ultimately departing the club with a points per game ratio of 1.81 from his 69 games in charge.

Hutter, for comparison, had a slightly slower points per game average of 1.77 from his 93 games at Monaco, albeit while leading the club to second in his first year in charge.

Either way, De Zerbi is the young, exciting candidate who also boasts prior Premier League experience, with that arguably the most important factor when it comes to finding a possible successor to Tudor.

Tottenham appear to be moving for Igor Tudor's potential replacement, with contact now reportedly established as a title-winning manager becomes keen on the Spurs job.

Tudor facing Tottenham sack as Spurs identify potential heirs

Spurs has been the most chaotic dugout situation in the Premier League this season, bar Nottingham Forest's managerial merry-go-round, and it shows no sign of slowing down.

Tottenham, 17th in the table and one point above the relegation zone, are apparently poised to part ways with interim boss Tudor by mutual consent — a decision reportedly made the moment Morgan Gibbs-White slotted home Forest's second goal in Sunday's dismal 3-0 home defeat.

Tudor hasn't won a single Premier League game since being appointed in February, picking up one point from five attempts.

Tudor himself, dealing with the passing of his father Mario, is understood to be ready to step away.

The club's next game is not until April 12 — Sunderland away — giving the hierarchy a rare window to act without immediate pressure.

The hunt for a replacement is sprawling in several directions at once, and today's developments have only added to the complexity.

Roberto De Zerbi — widely seen as a dream appointment and described by Pep Guardiola as one of the most influential managers of the last 20 years — appears to be ruled out for now.

Sky Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio confirmed today that De Zerbi, who left Marseille in February, has no intention of returning to management before the end of the season.

Fabrizio Romano echoed that assessment on social media this afternoon, confirming the Italian remains the club's preferred candidate from the summer but is not going to Tottenham now.

Both summer targets De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino — the Argentinian currently managing the USA at the World Cup — are off the table until at least June.

In a fresh development today, Romano also confirmed that Fulham boss Marco Silva has been discussed internally at Tottenham.

The Portuguese has won four trophies, led Fulham to the Premier League as Championship winners in 2022 and has kept them established in the top flight ever since.

Whether that conversation progresses into something more concrete remains to be seen.

One man who could be ready to step in right now, though, is Adi Hutter.

According to TEAMtalk this afternoon, formal contact has now been made with Hutter.

The 56-year-old is also understood to be interested in the role, opening the door for Spurs to appoint the free agent as their second interim manager of the season.

German reports this morning claimed no concrete talks had taken place, but TEAMtalk have pushed back on that, with their 'well-placed sources' claiming initial approaches have now been made.

Hutter has been out of management since leaving Monaco last October and brings a serious CV to the table.

The Austrian won the Bundesliga Coach of the Year twice at Eintracht Frankfurt, and has won multiple league titles across spells at Red Bull Salzburg and BSC Young Boys.

He also secured Champions League football at Monaco, so he does have some credentials.

His high-energy, pressing-based approach is considered exactly the kind of medicine Spurs' passive and leaky defence has been crying out for.

Any appointment of Hutter is expected to be short-term — a rescue mission through the final seven games — with a permanent decision earmarked for the summer.

The only major doubt surrounding Hutter is his lack of Premier League experience, which could prove costly as we've seen from Tudor's dismal tenure.

Tottenham Hotspur are searching for a new manager following the defeat against Nottingham Forest at the weekend, and one of the Premier League's "best" coaches is among the targets.

Tudor under pressure after loss against Forest

Following the 3-0 defeat at home against Nottingham Forest at the weekend, Tottenham are dangerously close to the relegation zone, currently sitting just one point above 18th-place West Ham United.

Danny Murphy has suggested ENIC will have no choice but to part ways with the Croatian, saying: "I think it's impossible for him to stay. I really do. I think it's really difficult for the players to play in an environment that's so deflated and toxic.

"The only way you can change that is either winning games which they're not doing, or change a manager - what the fans want. If they keep him in charge - it's five league games without a win. A new guy comes in, gets one win, all of sudden, it can turn quickly. I think it's a risk worth taking and I think they'll take it."

The 47-year-old has made nothing short of a disastrous start to life in north London, averaging just 0.57 points per match, having won one, drawn one and lost five of his opening seven matches in charge, and the board are now scouring the market for potential replacements.

Last week, it was revealed former AS Monaco manager Adolf Hutter is one of the names on Tottenham's shortlist, but they are also identifying alternative options from within the Premier League, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Taking to X, the transfer expert stated the Lilywhites are now internally discussing a move for Fulham manager Marco Silva, who will be available without compensation when his contract at Craven Cottage expires this summer.

Ex-Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is also among the potential options, with the Italian now "open" to replacing Tudor at the end of the campaign.

Silva has won four trophies throughout his managerial career, across spells with Fulham, Sporting CP, GD Estoril Praia and Sporting CP, and he has done a stellar job in his current role.

The Portuguese manager led the Cottagers to the Premier League courtesy of winning the 2021-22 Championship title, and he has since stabilised the west London side in the top flight.

Fulham defender Calvin Bassey believes the 48-year-old has what it takes to manage one of England's top sides, describing him as "one of the best managers in the Premier League" last July.

Silva, who is the Premier League's second-longest serving manager behind Manchester City's Pep Guardiola, has earned the opportunity to test himself at a top club, and Tottenham should make a move this summer if they avoid relegation.

Will Oliver Glasner leave Crystal Palace with a second major trophy in the bag?

It would be typical Glasner, a natural-born winner, to emerge from 2025/26 with the Conference League title in his pocket, having endured through a testing campaign with the Eagles.

The Austrian coach has become something of a polarising figure in recent months, having announced he will leave Selhurst Park when his contract expires in the summer.

Crystal Palace won the FA Cup this season, and they are currently playing European football. They are among the favourites to win the Conference League.

Chairman Steve Parish needs to pick the right successor, someone who can build from the foundations Glasner has laid.

The latest on Crystal Palace's manager search

In some surprising but exciting Tuesday news, The Telegraph's Matt Law has revealed that Crystal Palace have shortlisted Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola.

Iraola, 44, has emerged as one of the hottest young coaches in Europe, and he is out of contract at the end of the season.

The Spaniard may have his sights set on a trip home, though, with Athletic Bilbao thought to have a vested interest in the front-footed tactician.

If that is the case, the Eagles may turn to Thomas Frank, who has been out of work since being sacked by Tottenham Hotspur in February.

Last month, reports emerged that Parish and co had earmarked Frank as a leading contender to succeed Glasner in south London. His time with Spurs might have been fraught and unsuccessful, but their troubles run far deeper than Frank and his involvement.

At Brentford, the Dane took the club into the Premier League and established them over a number of years. The Bees are lauded for being expertly-run and thoughtful in their strategising, and in that, Frank could be the perfect man to take the reins at Palace.

Why Thomas Frank is perfect for Palace

Iraola plays attractive, energetic football at Bournemouth, and it's true that at Tottenham, Frank's squad employed the polar opposite.

But the 2025/26 season has maybe not served as an accurate gauge for Frank's expertise and suitability as Palace's new manager, with his 4-2-3-1 focused Brentford team hailed by pundit Danny Murphy for their "great intensity and physicality".

Crystal Palace are a close-knit and receptive group, and they would embrace Frank's methods.

Jorgen Strand Larsen, for example, could be the perfect number nine to front Frank's Eagles system, with his powerful frame and strong link-up ability reminiscent of Ivan Toney.

The Londoners have a team that is replete with attacking quality, though there have certainly been a few claims of late that things have gone stale under Glasner, and Frank, who also utilises a three-man backline with regularity, should shake things up without rocking the apple cart too hard.

Iraola is a top coach, but he's not without his flaws on the south coast, with defensive vulnerability and questionable in-game management two salient points of criticism.

Frank has proven himself as a project manager and could be the right pick to succeed Glasner. He's not the most expansive coach, but he showed through Toney and Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa at the Gtech that he knows how to get a tune from talented forwards.

It's a risk worth taking, and while Iraola is undoubtedly Parish's number one pick right now, the 52-year-old could prove to be a fallback who would be even more successful than the Cherries boss.

Tottenham are reportedly eyeing up a former Nottingham Forest boss to jump in and replace Igor Tudor as interim, and it's actually not the heavily-linked Sean Dyche.

Igor Tudor reportedly poised to leave Spurs imminently

The clock is ticking at Tottenham.

Three weeks until their next Premier League game, a trip to Sunderland on April 12, and the club is expected to head there under a different manager than the one who trudged off the touchline in Sunday's 3-0 home capitulation to Nottingham Forest.

Indeed, as per multiple reports, Tudor is apparently set to leave this week, so that much appears to be settled.

Internally, the defeat to Vitor Pereira's side had already been designated as the line in the sand — a result that would trigger a change.

The line was crossed emphatically, with goals from Igor Jesus, Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi sending the home supporters heading for the exits long before the end.

Attention has now shifted sharply to who takes over after Tudor most likely seals his N17 departure in the coming days.

Roberto De Zerbi has apparently made clear he will not step in mid-season, while some reports suggest that Spurs legend Robbie Keane would take the job regardless of what division Tottenham are in, but wants a permanent appointment.

Mauricio Pochettino and De Zerbi have been the names at the top of the list for the summer — but it will likely only be if Spurs avoid relegation, which from 17th place and one point above West Ham is far from certain.

That leaves the very immediate question of who steadies the ship for the final seven games of the season.

And it is here that TEAMtalk reveals a name that will resonate deeply with supporters and evoke a very different era in the club's history.

Tottenham seriously considering Chris Hughton as interim manager

Indeed, according to their information, Chris Hughton is now being strongly considered by the Tottenham hierarchy as a 'surprise' interim appointment.

The 67-year-old has one of the most extensive and genuine connections to the club of any living football figure.

He joined Spurs as a 13-year-old in 1971, signed professional terms in 1979 and spent 13 years as a left-back, making 398 appearances and winning two FA Cups, a UEFA Cup and a League Cup.

Then, having retired as a player in 1993, he stayed on the coaching staff for a further 14 years, right up to 2007, working under 11 different managers.

Along the way, he had three separate stints as Spurs caretaker manager — so walking back through those doors would not be walking into the unknown.

As a manager in his own right, Hughton has a solid, if unspectacular, CV.

He took Newcastle up to the Premier League as Championship winners in 2010, guided Brighton to the top flight in 2017 and kept them there for two seasons.

His methods are rooted in defensive organisation and collective effort — exactly the kind of pragmatic, stabilising approach a club one point above the relegation zone might desperately need right now.

He has been without a club since being dismissed as Ghana head coach in January 2024, following their group-stage exit at the Africa Cup of Nations.

His last English club post was Nottingham Forest, where he was let go in 2021 after a difficult start to the Championship season.

The two-year-plus gap from management will raise eyebrows, and TEAMtalk acknowledges Hughton himself represents a shock option.

But in a crisis built on chaotic decision-making and short-term firefighting, the idea of a man who knows Tottenham inside out — and who carries none of the noise that comes with bigger names — has genuine logic behind it.

There's a sense of whiplash to this current Tottenham Hotspur situation under Igor Tudor, with the Croatian's positive strides quickly undone at the weekend.

Fans and pundits alike were calling for his dismissal in the aftermath of the debacle in Madrid, only for the 47-year-old to respond with two creditable results against Liverpool and Atleti, ahead of Sunday's relegation six-pointer with Nottingham Forest.

With the pressure back on, however, the Lilywhites wilted in front of their own support, with questions again being asked of Tudor's suitability for the role, considering his prior lack of Premier League experience.

The former Juventus boss hasn't been removed from his post as things stand, but an exit appears inevitable, with potential replacements already being mooted.

Spurs could tempt perfect Tudor replacement into joining

The suggestion is that the ENIC regime are very much considering the prospect of changing manager again, with Tudor's departure expected as a matter of when and not if.

The concern, of course, is making sure that they settle on a suitable successor, with reported targets ranging from Chris Hughton and Ryan Mason, to Adi Hutter and Roberto De Zerbi.

In the case of De Zerbi, the Italian is a free agent following his exit from Marseille earlier this year, albeit despite being considered the top target by Spurs, he appears set to wait until the summer before making any move.

That appears the same situation with regard to Mauricio Pochettino, with both the Argentine and De Zerbi deemed to be the frontrunners heading into the summer, as per TEAMtalk.

That same report did also outline that ENIC had previously held talks with former Tottenham striker Robbie Keane, prior to Tudor's appointment, with the Irishman viewed as a potential interim option.

Such an approach was rejected by Keane, amid his desire for a permanent role, although it would be worth Spurs knocking at his door again, particularly with Ferencvaros having now exited the Europa League.

A young, promising manager with affiliation to Spurs, the 45-year-old seems like the perfect fit.

Why Keane is like another De Zerbi & Pochettino

There must surely be doubts over De Zerbi's suitability, both in the short-term and long-term, with the explosive coach enduring a turbulent time of things in France, even if his exciting brand of football has drawn notable plaudits.

As for Pochettino, once an exciting young manager on the up in 2014, upon his arrival in north London, the United States coach has endured something of a decline of late, sacked after muted spells at both Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea in his post-Spurs career.

In the shape of Keane, however, Tottenham could find a perfect blend of both De Zerbi and Pochettino's strengths, with the Irishman's stock having soared after an intriguing start to his coaching career.

Like De Zerbi, who notably coached in Ukraine with Shakhtar Donetsk prior to joining Brighton, Keane has navigated a left-field managerial route thus far, with his two stints having come in Hungary and Israel.

A league title winner with both Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ferencvaros, having led the latter side into the last-16 of the Europa League, Keane has gone from strength to strength in recent years.

It would very much be like appointing Pochettino in his younger days, with the South American genius having impressed at Espanyol and Southampton, before overseeing something of a golden period in north London.

After years of going down the experienced route, be it Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho or Ange Postecoglou, Spurs could aim to repeat what has worked in the past, hence why another young, up-and-coming manager like Keane would be a wise choice.

Outside of his Spurs connections too, Keane - with his 4-2-3-1 or 3-5-2 set-up - also offers the benefit of his attack-minded, direct style of play, with his current side second in the table after netting 50 goals in 26 league games thus far.

He might not be quite as radical as the enigmatic De Zerbi, although his approach has yielded winning results in his two posts to date, having been hailed as a "complex coach" by Ferencvaros colleague, Leandro.

Like De Zerbi, Keane has shown he's not afraid to take a gamble in his managerial career, while like a young Pochettino, he would be joining Spurs on the up, without too much in the way of setbacks.

Whether ENIC can tempt him into joining mid-season is another matter, although the chance is there for any manager - Keane or otherwise - to make themselves a hero by leading Spurs to safety.

It felt like a week of positivity for Tottenham Hotspur and for Igor Tudor, with the Lilywhites rescuing a creditable point away at Anfield, prior to sealing a first win under the Croatian against Atletico Madrid in midweek.

The north London side had delivered when the pressure was off on both of those occasions, having seemingly relished their underdog status.

Back as favourites for the visit of Nottingham Forest on Sunday, however, the hosts regressed back to square one again, with Tudor firmly under the microscope for his selection decisions.

Indeed, the 47-year-old had opted not to start Xavi Simons despite the Dutchman's dazzling display against Atleti, while then ripping up the plan too swiftly with a handful of changes at the break.

Such alterations appeared to be the hallmark of a manager losing the plot, with Spurs needing to act again swiftly if they are to save their season.

Latest on Spurs' manager search and Tudor future

The sad news of the passing of Tudor's father on Sunday has, understandably, quietened the frenzy regarding his future, with the Tottenham hierarchy unlikely to be in any immediate rush to make a decision, considering the international break is also now here.

Even so, there are believed to be discussions taking place regarding the removal of the former Juventus boss, with one win from his seven games in charge not exactly making for pretty reading.

With Spurs still only a point above the drop, the situation is getting desperate, ensuring the club will also be hamstrung somewhat when it comes to naming a potential replacement.

As reported this week, while free agent Roberto De Zerbi is interested in taking the job this summer, that is conditional on Spurs staying up, with the Italian not believed to be keen on making the switch mid-season.

With fellow frontrunner Mauricio Pochettino also likely to be a summer target, considering the Argentine will lead the United States into this summer's World Cup, the Lilywhites will have to look elsewhere for a short-term solution.

Former interim boss Tim Sherwood has thrown his hat into the ring, while the likes of Harry Redknapp and Glenn Hoddle have been mooted, although the Europa League winners could take a more realistic, albeit surprise path instead if they are to make a change.

Spurs could hire a better fit than De Zerbi this month

There may be a sense that De Zerbi's desire to join at the end of the season, rather than now, could prove a blessing in disguise, with the former Marseille boss having the tendency to add fuel to the fire.

Indeed, the combustible coach parted ways with the Ligue 1 side earlier this year after a turbulent time at the helm, memorably refusing to train his players at one stage following a defeat to Reims last season.

Having also previously exited Brighton and Hove Albion after a dispute with owner Tony Bloom regarding the club's transfer policy, De Zerbi is not the calm head that Spurs desperately need right now.

With that in mind, it could be time to call in another 'firefighter', albeit this time one who has actually managed in the Premier League previously, with Sean Dyche still out of work following his exit from Forest last month.

Reports earlier on in March suggested that Spurs had actually held talks regarding a tentative move for Dyche, with the Englishman previously steering Everton to safety, while routinely defying the odds during his decade-long stint at Burnley.

Even in his recent post at the City Ground, which ended in the sack, the 54-year-old creditably steadied the ship following Ange Postecoglou's brief, ill-fated tenure, with his dismissal having come as something of a surprise.

In 18 league games in charge in Nottingham, Dyche won six and drew four, collecting 22 points to suggest he may well have chartered a course to safety, had he not been shown the door so swiftly.

In any case, while his methods may not be glamorous, the one-time Watford boss has repeatedly shown that he can get results in the top-flight, having now racked up 350 games as a Premier League manager to date, favouring a 4-2-3-1 formation along the way.

Considering the likes of Hoddle, Redknapp and Sherwood have long been out of the game, and with De Zerbi having the ability to sink this team even further, Dyche might well represent the most logical, short-term fix for the remainder of the campaign.

Either way, after the debacle at N17 on Sunday, this Tudor experiment can last no longer - something has to change.

Tottenham are in the "final stages" of bringing in a replacement for Fabio Paratici, who left his role as managing director at the end of January.

Romero criticised after Tottenham rallying cry

Cristian Romero promised to put 200 per cent into Tottenham’s seven remaining “finals” in order to avoid a seismic Premier League exit, but some footage from the defeat against Nottingham Forest tells a very different story.

Spurs’ survival hopes took an almighty hit after they suffered a demoralising 3-0 loss at home to Forest on Sunday to drop to 17th in the table and increase the possibility of a first relegation since 1977.

Tottenham’s winless run in the Premier League stands at 13 matches and the pre-match optimism was swapped for a sense of inevitability after another abject defeat.

“It’s a difficult day for everyone, but the first thing is to speak about the fans. Thank you for today and always staying with us,” Romero said.

“They gave us fantastic support, but about us, it’s a bad day. Now it is finished and the most important thing is to understand the situation.”

Fans were left fuming after footage emerged online showing the Argentine sauntering back into position moments before the visitors scored their second goal.

The players are not the only ones under pressure of course, with rumours continuing to circulate regarding the future of manager Igor Tudor.

Reports on Tuesday claimed Spurs are set to part ways with Tudor to move for Roberto De Zerbi, who is out of work since leaving Marseille abruptly earlier this year.

Tottenham are also expected to appoint new faces in the boardroom after Paratici's departure, with pressure building on Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham as well, and it seems they are closing in on their first new face.

Tottenham "in final stages" of sporting director search

According to Matt Law and Jason Burt, writing for The Telegraph, Spurs are closing in on a new transfer chief, with Sebastian Kehl the frontrunner to take over.

"Spurs in final stages of sporting director hunt," Law said on social media. "Sources in Germany believe Sebastian Kehl is in the frame."

Kehl, a three-time Bundesliga winner as a player for Borussia Dortmund, has been the sporting director there since Michael Zorc left in 2022.

Set to leave the German club by mutual consent this month, the 46 year-old may be tasked with rebuilding a side decimated by relegation if Tudor - or indeed a replacement - cannot keep them up.