Tottenham Hotspur may have just surrendered to relegation from the Premier League as they close in on the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi.
GIVEMESPORT sources understand that the two parties are in advanced talks over a lucrative five-year contract that will see the Italian move to north London immediately, rather than in the summer, with the club sitting just one point above the relegation zone with seven games remaining of the campaign.
Spurs are absolutely desperate to avoid relegation, which saw them part ways with Igor Tudor after just 44 days in charge following just one win in seven in all competitions. But by bringing in De Zerbi at this stage, they may have just condemned themselves to the drop.
De Zerbi's Complex Methods an Issue
Roberto De Zerbi
The 46-year-old has garnered a huge reputation from his time at Brighton and Marseille, in particular, where he helped the Seagulls to claim European football, while Marseille returned to the Champions League under his guidance.
But his time at Brighton didn't start off so well, with the team failing to win any of their first five games under his management, and captain Lewis Dunk describing the first weeks with him as 'horrendous' and 'baffling' during an interview with The Telegraph.
“If I am being honest, the first couple of weeks were horrendous … I wouldn’t say horrendous, they were baffling," he said.
"The first meeting when he went in, I was so confused – who to look at, what to listen to, and you slowly pick up.
"Training changed dramatically, we worked on a lot of different stuff and the first couple of weeks were a really hard transition, we were fourth in the league when Graham left and we were flying with him and it was a strange time for him to go and then Roberto came in and it was a carnage two weeks.”
De Zerbi a Huge Gamble
Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi on the touchline
There's no doubting that De Zerbi is an excellent manager, and he plays exciting, attacking football wherever he goes. But right now, the club need togetherness, and his appointment has divided the fan base yet again.
A fans' group released a statement last week stating they didn't want him at the club due to his comments and stance about Mason Greenwood, and many fans have been in agreement about that. Mix that in with how long it may take the players to get to grips with his demands, and it seems like it's a huge gamble and a race against the clock to avoid relegation.
With Spurs going against the fans and bringing him in immediately, they may have just signed their own relegation warrant.
Spurs chiefs Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Related
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