Tottenham Hotspur ‘closing in’ on new manager before Sunderland trip | OneFootball

Tottenham could have a new head coach in place for the April trip to Sunderland, with Roberto De Zerbi in advanced talks to take over. According to Sunderland Echo, the move is being pushed to give the squad time to prepare.

Spurs returned to De Zerbi after Igor Tudor left on Sunday. The former Brighton boss had initially planned to wait until the summer to assess options, but now looks set to change course and step in immediately.

A five-year contract is understood to be on the table, which would make the 46-year-old the fourth head coach at the club in the past 10 months.

De Zerbi has been linked with Spurs since 2023 and again over the last month after Thomas Frank left on February 11. A break until the end of the season had been expected after he departed Marseille in the same week.

With Mauricio Pochettino contracted to lead the United States at this summer’s World Cup, De Zerbi is viewed as the most viable candidate currently available.

Tottenham turned to Tudor as interim, yet his 44-day spell brought five defeats in seven and a series of questionable tactical calls, heightening fears of a first relegation since 1977.

First-team coach Bruno Saltor oversaw training for those not on international duty after Sunday’s exit. The club aimed to appoint by midweek to allow 10 days of work before the April 12 visit to the Stadium of Light, and that looks set to be De Zerbi.

Source: Sunderland Echo