Tottenham Hotspur are reeling from a dreadful 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in their battle to avoid relegation. While Igor Tudor cannot be fully blamed for the loss given the poor performance from his players, the result has undone the growing optimism surrounding him after encouraging displays against Liverpool FC and Atlético Madrid, where it seemed he was beginning to settle into the role at N17.
In truth, Tudor does not appear to be the solution for Tottenham in the short term, and he was never widely viewed as a long-term answer either. The club delayed making backup plans when Thomas Frank first showed signs of being at risk of dismissal earlier in the season, and now Tottenham must act quickly to identify their next permanent manager.
Although supporters are dreaming of a reunion with Mauricio Pochettino, reports suggest the club may have another candidate at the top of their shortlist to replace the struggling managerial partnership of Frank and Tudor.
Tottenham have long admired Roberto De Zerbi. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, De Zerbi has consistently been considered a leading option for the role. He was previously linked with Spurs during the winter, and since his departure from Olympique de Marseille, he has remained high on the club’s list of targets. Romano noted that De Zerbi is one of the main candidates rather than the sole favorite, with Pochettino also firmly in contention.
However, De Zerbi may currently hold a slight advantage. Reports indicate he is more likely to be considered for a summer appointment, particularly if Tottenham manage to avoid relegation this season. In that scenario, Pochettino could emerge as the leading choice. This differs from other recent reports suggesting De Zerbi could be appointed immediately, depending on contractual terms.
Ultimately, if De Zerbi is not Tottenham’s clear first choice, he appears to be running neck and neck with Pochettino. While many fans favor the familiarity and past success of Pochettino, key figures at the club—such as Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham—are believed to strongly admire De Zerbi’s tactical approach. Still, his history of conflicts at previous clubs may leave him viewed as a secondary option compared to Pochettino at this stage.
