Roberto De Zerbi: Man United’s pursuit under threat by Tottenham | OneFootball

Manchester United’s hunt for a new head coach has taken a sharp twist, with Roberto De Zerbi, one of the club’s primary targets, now in line for a bombshell return to England – but it may not be to Old Trafford.

Taking their time

INEOS are prepared to wait until the summer before settling on a long-term successor to Ruben Amorim, who was sacked after an explosive fallout with sporting director Jason Wilcox last month.

Michael Carrick was handed the reins as caretaker until the end of the season, when the pool of candidates will grow. The former midfielder has picked up 13 points from a possible 15 in his first five games at the helm, propelling United into the top four and firmly within reach of Champions League qualification.

Carrick is understood to be seen as an interim option, with more experienced candidates, including De Zerbi, at the top of United’s list. This includes Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, and Mauricio Pochettino, who may all be available after the World Cup in North America finishes this summer.

However, Gary Neville revealed he has held conversations with the club which indicate Carrick could put himself forward for the permanent role, and he would be included in the vetting process by INEOS.

Regardless, it is unlikely the 44-year-old Englishman will be in charge next season, as United prioritise Premier League pedigree as a key attribute in their hunt, which explains why De Zerbi was a frontrunner after his impressive spell with Brighton & Hove Albion.

The 46-year-old coach left the Seagulls to take over Olympique Marseille in the summer of 2024, just weeks after he was interviewed for the United hot seat as INEOS contemplated sacking Erik ten Hag in the wake of the FA Cup win over Manchester City. Talks were also held with Tuchel about replacing the Dutch manager, but an agreement could not be struck with either candidate.

However, in an explosive twist, De Zerbi is now available again after leaving Marseille last night, with the Italian tactician understood to be eyeing a return to the Premier League.

But United’s plan to wait until the summer may now need to accelerate, as Tottenham Hotspur are also in the market for a new manager following the decision to sack Thomas Frank this morning.

The Lilywhites are admirers of De Zerbi, and his decision to quit Marseille at the same time a vacancy arises at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has raised eyebrows – with INEOS certain to be keeping close tabs on the situation.

Manchester over London

Despite Tottenham’s interest, Fichajes reports the “most likely destination” for De Zerbi is Old Trafford.

The Spanish outlet contends United see him as the “ideal candidate” to lead a “major rebuild” of the club, with his attacking philosophy and commitment to developing young players considered key strengths.

The report concludes that noises in England indicate De Zerbi is the “clear favourite” to be in the United dugout next season, as he is the “top choice with strong internal support within the club’s sporting structure.”

However, INEOS may be forced to accelerate their timeline to secure the Italian’s signature this summer if a lucrative offer to return to the Premier League arrives this week from north London.

Final Thoughts

While De Zerbi is undoubtedly a talented coach, armed with a distinct and attractive philosophy, he remains a hot-headed figure in the dugout. There were issues while he was at Brighton, just as there throughout his time with Marseille.

The idea that he would be capable of handling the almost incomparable pressure of United hot seat is optimistic at best. Spurs would be saving United from themselves by appointing him before INEOS get the chance to.

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