Tottenham Assess Roberto De Zerbi Replacements as Pressure Mounts
Tottenham are not expected to remove Roberto De Zerbi during the three-week international break, but the club are assessing possible replacements as pressure builds on the Italian.
What we know
- Spurs spent about £380 million on 10 arrivals in the summer after narrowly staying in the Premier League last season.
- De Zerbi’s team have taken two points from their opening five league games, with two 0-0 draws their only points. A 3-2 loss at Aston Villa left Tottenham bottom of the table.
- Liverpool also knocked Spurs out of the Carabao Cup in round three, winning 3-1.
- De Zerbi is contracted until 2031 and has no release provision in his deal. Removing him could cost Tottenham more than £10 million, even in the event of relegation.
- A negotiated departure could reduce that bill, but an early mutual agreement is considered unlikely.
- Eddie Howe is emerging as the leading potential successor. Mauricio Pochettino is also a former Spurs manager, but is currently in charge of the United States men’s national team.
What happens next
Tottenham will use the international pause to review De Zerbi’s position while he works on the side’s poor results and tactical problems. The next run of fixtures will be decisive for the 48-year-old.
Howe has been out of work since leaving Newcastle United shortly before this campaign. During almost five years at St James’ Park, he led Newcastle into the Champions League twice and won the Carabao Cup. It remains unclear whether he would take the Tottenham job if approached.
