Tottenham have held talks with Roberto De Zerbi – a manager Pep Guardiola adores – about replacing Antonio Conte.
It was the Daily Mail who claimed that Spurs had already made initial contact with the 43-year-old about a potential move to north London.
If Roberto De Zerbi does end up at Spurs, the appointment would seemingly come with Pep Guardiola‘s approval.
What’s the story?
Well – according to Lele Adani, a friend of De Zerbi – Guardiola addressed every Brighton player in the dressing room after Manchester City’s 3-1 win over the Seagulls in October to give them a message.
Speaking on Bobo TV, Adani claims Guardiola said about De Zerbi: “Please follow this coach, I would throw myself in the fire for him.”
The Spaniard has already openly praised the Italian since he replaced Graham Potter at the Amex Stadium, telling Sky Italia that his fellow coach plays a “wonderful” style of football.
With someone as esteemed as Guardiola praising De Zerbi like this, it is no wonder Tottenham are keen to hire him.
Tottenham will struggle to hire De Zerbi
In our view, it would be a major surprise if De Zerbi left Brighton for Tottenham.
The Italian tactician is sitting sixth in the Premier League as things stand, one place above Spurs with two games in hand.
At Brighton, De Zerbi has a clear structure to work within, a fantastic academy and also a seemingly never ending conveyor belt of talented transfer targets ready to step in should a key player be poached.View Tweet
Contrastingly, Tottenham seem to have little idea of what they’re doing right now under Daniel Levy, and are also without a Director of Football following Fabio Paratici’s departure.
Things are, quite simply, messy in north London, and we can’t see Tottenham’s chaotic hierarchy being in a position to lure De Zerbi away from Brighton, a club on the up while Spurs slip down.