Roberto De Zerbi 'quits Marseille job' amid Tottenham manager links | OneFootball

With Thomas Frank back on the brink at Spurs, former managerial target will soon be available

According to reports in France, former Brighton manager De Zerbi's time at the French club is nearing a conclusion.

De Zerbi led training on Tuesday, but is said to have also held discussions with players to find out if he still had the backing of the dressing room.

The report claims that De Zerbi did not receive the assurances he was after and is now increasingly convinced that his time in Marseille is at an end.

While there were reports last month of De Zerbi being on the brink of walking away, following the club's dramatic Champions League exit, the most recent rumours are said to be far stronger.

Word of De Zerbi's likely departure comes on the same night Thomas Frank took another - and perhaps biggest - step towards the Tottenham exit door.

A 2-1 defeat to Newcastle, their seventh at home in the league this season, saw Spurs move to within five points of the relegation zone. An unthinkable position for Spurs to find themselves in with 12 games to play.

While former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino is the favourite to return to north London in the summer, he is currently preparing to guide the USA into a home World Cup. His availability, if any, is not expected much before August.

De Zerbi has been installed as the bookies' second-favourite for the position, should Frank be sacked.

The Italian was of interest to Spurs in 2023, before Ange Postecoglou was appointed, but is said to have underwhelmed then-chairman Daniel Levy during the interview process.