Spurs are working to appoint a new boss ahead of their clash with Sunderland next month
Spurs are hoping to appoint former Brighton and Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi ahead of their trip to face Sunderland next month.
Spurs did not win a competitive fixture during Igor Tudor's six-week spell as interim boss, with confirmation that the former Juventus head coach had left his role arriving on Sunday afternoon. They currently sit just one point above the relegation zone ahead of the Premier League run-in, with the trip to the Stadium of Light on April 12th their fixture.
De Zerbi is understood to be their primary choice to take charge, though the situation is complicated by the fact that he had initially wanted to take on the job before the end of the current campaign. However, according to multiple reports Spurs have made a major move to convince De Zerbi to step into the role immediately and the Italian is said to be giving the possibility serious thought.
Reporter Gianluca Di Marzio posted the following update on X on Monday morning: "Roberto De Zerbi is now open to considering Spurs' long-term contract proposal. Discussions will follow looking for an agreement. De Zerbi opens to evaluating Tottenham's offer, which proposes a 5-year contract: next few hours decisive for the yes."
Assistant Bruno Saltor is currently leading training at Spurs, though most of their players are currently away on international duty. Spurs intend to have a new boss in place for when players return later this week, giving them a full week of preparation leading into the trip to Sunderland. Sean Dyche has been touted as another potential option for the role if De Zerbi is not willing to take it.
A statement from Spurs on Sunday said: "We can confirm that it has been mutually agreed for Head Coach Igor Tudor to leave the Club with immediate effect. Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci have also left their respective roles of Goalkeeping Coach and Physical Coach. We thank Igor, Tomislav and Riccardo for their efforts during the past six weeks, in which they worked tirelessly. We also acknowledge the bereavement that Igor has recently suffered and send our support to him and his family at this difficult time. An update on a new Head Coach will be provided in due course.”
The early Spurs injury news ahead of Sunderland clash
Injuries have been a major factor in their dismal form, and the hope is that some key players will be back after this current break. The starting XI and certainly the bench should in theory have a stronger look by the time they travel to the Stadium of Light, though time will tell. There is some doubt over goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who has recently been playing with a hernia issue and who Spurs confirmed would be undergoing surgery during this break, their hope being that the extended spell without a fixture will allow him to face Sunderland. If not, then Antonín Kinský will make his first appearance since being substituted in the first half of the club's first leg defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Mathys Tel is a minor doubt after being forced off in that Nottingham Forest defeat with a knock, though at this stage there has been no suggestion that the issue is a major one.
Spurs hope that the break will allow them to get Mohammed Kudus and Rodrigo Bentancur back in the fold from thigh injuries, with the pair inching closer to full training before the current break. Kudus in particular is one of the team's key attacking threat and whether the pair would be able to start after a spell on the sidelines is unclear, but they would most certainly add welcome depth to the group if fit. Spurs also remain hopeful that James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski will be back to feature before the end of the campaign, though after such lengthy spells on the sidelines it would be a surprise if they were back in time to face Sunderland. Defender Ben Davies could also make a very welcome return from an ankle injury, adding experience and quality to the defensive depth of the group. Whether the Sunderland game comes just too soon remains to be seen.
Winger Wilson Odobert will miss the game as he recovers from a long-term knee injury, while midfielder Yves Bissouma is also a doubt.
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