Despite a summer spend of close to £400m, Tottenham Hotspur have made a dismal start to their 2026/27 season, sitting bottom of the Premier League table, winless after five games. They suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Aston Villa in their last game before the international break, leaving fans deeply frustrated.
There is no doubt that Roberto De Zerbi is a man under pressure. The signings he has overseen have not had the desired effect on the Tottenham side. Spurs have shown the intensity and attacking intent in the opening month or so of the season, but the biggest problem remains putting the ball in the back of the net. The North Londoners have found the net just twice so far, both goals coming in against Aston Villa.
Tottenham eye move for former Premier League title-winning manager
There has been no indication from Tottenham that Roberto De Zerbi is at risk of losing his job. In fact, club CEO Vinai Venkatesham recently expressed full confidence in the Italian tactician to turn things around, insisting that there have been some encouraging signs in the team’s performance despite the poor results.
Several pundits and former managers, including club legend Chris Houghton, have called on Spurs fans to be patient with the 47-year-old and give him the time he needs to mould this squad together into a functioning unit. However, just because De Zerbi’s job is not under immediate threat does not mean that the club’s hierarchy are not casting envious eyes over other managers across the game.
According to Dutch outlet Soccer News, Arne Slot has emerged on Tottenham’s radar as a potential replacement for De Zerbi.
Arne Slot is currently out of a job after being sacked by Liverpool at the end of last season. The Dutchman won the Premier League title in his first season at Anfield, surpassing the expectations of the fans and the pundits. However, the club decided to part ways with him after a fifth-place finish last term.
The report adds that Slot’s name has emerged in discussions within the North London club offices after De Zerbi’s failure to get a tune out of the squad, despite the massive transfer outlay in the summer.
De Zerbi will get time to turn things around
De Zerbi only took charge of Tottenham, and from a dubious position, he saved us from the drop. The North Londoners clinched top-flight safety on the final day of last season at the expense of West Ham.
It is true that the Lilywhites have not won a single game in the Premier League this season and are already out of the Carabao Cup, but after the club’s hierarchy decided to back him in the transfer market to the hilt, De Zerbi is expected to get time to turn things around. The ex-Brighton boss has got enough credit in his bank and deserves to be trusted to get Tottenham’s season on track.
As far as Slot is concerned, he proved himself by winning the Premier League in his first season, which remains a massive achievement. Liverpool sacking him in June should not tarnish his credentials, but Spurs simply cannot appoint him mid-season and expect to work miracles.