Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified former Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi as a top managerial target.
After parting ways with Thomas Frank, Tottenham were on the lookout for a new manager. For now, they have handed the reins to former Juventus boss Igor Tudor. The Croatian tactician has taken charge on an interim basis until the end of the season. As a result, the search for their next permanent manager continues.
According to Pete O’Rourke via Football Insider, former Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi is a priority target for the North London club. The Italian manager’s impressive Premier League track record and his availability make him one of the leading candidates.
De Zerbi made quite a name for himself during his two-year-long spell at Brighton & Hove Albion. He then took charge of French club Marseille in the summer of 2024. While the 46-year-old had a massive impact on the Ligue 1 outfit, they ended up sacking him last month following their elimination from the Champions League and a hammering at the hands of rivals PSG in the league.
Things might not have ended well for him at Marseille, but despite that, the interest in him remains sky high because of his overall track record. Having watched him do wonders for Brighton back in the day, Tottenham are quite confident about him being the right man to lead their new project.
Pepe O’Rourke’s take on the next Tottenham boss
While speaking about Tottenham’s managerial situation, O’Rourke said, “They want to bring in an interim manager until the end of the season to see them secure survival and then maybe go for a big name in the summer. Tottenham want to make an appointment and bring in a ready-made replacement for Thomas Frank.
“Roberto De Zerbi is a name who’s obviously in the frame. He’s now free having left Marseille in recent days as well. He’s obviously got Premier League experience from a time at Brighton. He has been on the radar before for Tottenham so he’ll be one that I’m sure they will be looking at to see if they can maybe lure him to the club.”
Tottenham are pushing for Roberto De Zerbi’s signature
While the North London outfit have appointed Igor Tudor as an interim boss, they are hoping he can help them survive and post that, they will look to bring in a big name in the summer. They do have multiple options on their wishlist, but it seems De Zerbi is their top target.
However, securing his services won’t be that straightforward, even though he is currently without a job, because Manchester United are also looking at him as a top target for their full-time role ahead of next season.
While both clubs have a long list of targets, De Zerbi is quite high on their wishlist. With United also keen on his signature, it will be interesting to see if Spurs can beat their rivals in the race.