Over the last couple of seasons, many people have joked that Tottenham Hotspur could suffer relegation from the Premier League – but it now may become a reality in the months ahead.
The Lilywhites have now lost five league matches in a row, subsequently failing to win a single game in England’s top-flight since the 1-0 triumph over Crystal Palace on December 28th.
Igor Tudor’s temporary appointment has evidently failed to take off as many anticipated in North London, which has seen the side drop to within one point of the relegation zone.
The Croatian boss has now lost all three of his games in charge since taking the reins, which has no doubt only added to the looming fears of dropping into the second tier.
As a result, the hierarchy have constantly been monitoring other targets, with numerous managers lined up to take over should they decide to sack the 47-year-old.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt to replace Igor Tudor
Over the last couple of weeks, rumours have picked up pace at Spurs over a possible deal to re-appoint Mauricio Pochettino either on a short or long-term basis.
The Argentine, who left the club in 2019, has also spoken about his desire to return to the Lilywhites, but a deal could well be tricky to complete in the 2025/26 season.
He’s currently managing the USA men’s national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with Pochettino unlikely to entertain any offers until such a tournament is completed.
However, Pochettino isn’t the only manager who’s being eyed up to replace Tudor before the end of the campaign, with Roberto De Zerbi another boss now being explored.
According to TEAMtalk, the Lilywhites view the Italian as a superb option to make the desired impact in North London before the end of the campaign.
The report also states that the 46-year-old has huge admirers behind the scenes, but it remains to be seen if an imminent change of manager will take place.
However, any move for the former Marseille boss could be a tricky one to complete, with De Zerbi expected to wait until the summer to take his next managerial post.
Why De Zerbi would be an upgrade on Tudor & Poch for Spurs
After taking Spurs to the Champions League final back in 2019, many supporters will no doubt be advocating for Pochettino to return to the role in the near future.
The Argentine has no doubt been one of the club’s greatest managers in recent history, but the hierarchy should desperately steer clear of any emotional return.
It’s known in football that you should never go back after leaving a club, with the 54-year-old potentially tarnishing his reputation if he were to return to his former post.
However, there’s no denying that Tudor is a man who is rapidly becoming under mounting pressure, especially after losing three games in a row since replacing Thomas Frank.
Whilst De Zerbi is reluctant to take the reins with just nine games to go, the board desperately need to convince the Italian to change his mind if they hand the current boss his marching orders.
The former Marseille boss demonstrated his quality in Ligue 1 over the last couple of seasons, subsequently leading them to a second-place finish in 2024/25.
He’s also been a success in the Premier League during his managerial career, as seen during his two-year spell in charge of Brighton between 2022 and 2024.
De Zerbi managed to achieve a 43% win record during his time in England’s top-flight, whilst also registering an impressive 1.5 points per game at the AMEX stadium.
|
Roberto De Zerbi – PL career |
|
|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Tally |
|
Games managed |
70 |
|
Wins |
26 |
|
Draws |
19 |
|
Losses |
25 |
|
Goals scored |
116 |
|
Goals against |
110 |
|
Points per game |
1.46 |
The aforementioned figures are both higher than those achieved by Tudor and Pochettino in recent times, which showcases his ability to impress in such a division.
His recent spell in charge of Marseille demonstrates his ability to make an immediate impact and change a team’s fortunes – something which the Lilywhites desperately need at present.
De Zerbi, who’s been labelled “one of the best managers in the world” by Arne Slot, also managed to secure Brighton’s first-ever European campaign – subsequently doing so with limited funds.
Whilst the 46-year-old is reluctant to take the reins at present, the Spurs hierarchy should be doing all they can to secure his services if Tudor is sacked in the coming days.
His ability to transform numerous clubs has made the Italian a man in-demand, which could see the Lilywhites miss out on him if they waste any more time.
If they are to secure their top-flight status, Spurs must act quickly and move Tudor on, with De Zerbi the man who needs to be at the top of their shortlist.
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Igor Tudor may not last much longer in the Spurs dugout.