Tottenham Hotspur are accelerating their pursuit of Roberto de Zerbi, with the Italian manager reportedly open to taking the reins immediately to rescue the struggling London club.
Initially, the 46-year-old preferred to wait until the summer before returning to management following his departure from Marseille in February. However, Tottenham executives are pushing hard for a long-term deal to be signed right away as the team flirts with the very real threat of relegation.
Spurs currently find themselves in a dire position—languishing in 17th place in the Premier League, just a single point above the drop zone, and without a single league victory so far in 2026.
The urgency follows the swift exit of interim boss Igor Tudor, who departed by mutual consent on Sunday after a mere 44 days in charge. The club's leadership, including CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange, reportedly made the decision after a dismal 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest. However, they delayed the formal announcement to allow Tudor time to mourn the recent passing of his father.
The potential hiring of De Zerbi has already sparked fierce backlash from the fanbase. Several Tottenham supporters' groups have expressed deep concern over the appointment due to De Zerbi's past defense of Mason Greenwood. Greenwood joined De Zerbi at Marseille after charges of attempted rape and assault against the forward were dropped. At the time, De Zerbi publicly defended his player, calling Greenwood a "good guy" who had paid a "heavy price."
Proud Lilywhites, Tottenham's official LGBTQ+ supporters' group, strongly criticized the impending hire:
"When someone in that position publicly defends a player like Mason Greenwood, and frames it in a way that downplays the seriousness of what happened, it matters, not just in isolation but in what it signals."
As negotiations reportedly near a conclusion, the Tottenham hierarchy faces the difficult task of balancing their urgent need for tactical salvation on the pitch with growing moral objections from the stands.