Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly been in contact with former Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi for several days following the dismissal of Thomas Frank, according to reports in France.
The north London club are searching for a new head coach after Frank was sacked on Wednesday, ending his tenure after an eight-game winless run in the Premier League. His final match in charge was Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United, a result that left Spurs 16th in the table, just five points above the relegation zone.
The club’s hierarchy are now working towards appointing a successor, with De Zerbi viewed as one of the leading candidates after his recent departure from Marseille.
French outlet MediaFoot reports that Tottenham have made contact with the Italian coach following his decision to leave the Ligue 1 side last week and are attempting to convince him over a potential move. De Zerbi left Marseille by mutual consent after a heavy 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and the club’s Champions League exit.
Appointed in the summer of 2024, De Zerbi guided Marseille to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 in his first season. He departed with the team sitting fourth in the standings, 12 points behind leaders PSG.
The 46-year-old previously spent two years at Brighton, leading the club to a sixth-place Premier League finish in 2022/23 — their highest-ever top-flight position.
According to the same report, Tottenham may wait until the summer to appoint a permanent manager and could install an interim option in the meantime. While a move at the end of the season appears more likely, the possibility of De Zerbi arriving before then has not been entirely dismissed.
Mauricio Pochettino is also among the leading contenders to replace Frank. The Argentine is reportedly admired within the club, with senior figures open to a potential return after the 2026 World Cup.
Sources indicate Pochettino retains strong internal backing and could consider a return following the summer tournament, as he continues his current role with the United States national team.
Pochettino managed Spurs from 2014 to 2019, guiding them to a second-place Premier League finish in 2016/17 — their highest in the modern era — and leading the club to their first Champions League final in 2019, where they were defeated by Liverpool.
