Fabrizio Romano has shared a late-night update on Roberto De Zerbi after his departure from Tottenham.
It has been one of the most dramatic managerial merry-go-rounds of the Premier League season, with the exception of Nottingham Forest, and it appears to be nearing its latest, and perhaps final, turn.
Tottenham confirmed the departure of manager Igor Tudor by mutual consent on Sunday, just 44 days after a 3-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest left them one point above the relegation zone with seven games in hand.
The Croatian manager is the second manager to leave Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season, following Thomas Frank.
Spurs are without a win in the Premier League in 2026, so times are very tense.
De Zerbi stepped into the chaos. Since then, having guided Brighton to European qualification and Marseille back to the Champions League – albeit after a checkered 18 months that saw him leave the club earlier this year – he has spent time weighing his options from a position of considerable demand.
For weeks it was understood that he was reluctant to jump into a relegation battle with a team lacking 10 days of preparation and confidence, preferring to wait until the summer.
Following reports after the meeting, the manager announced in an official statement that he would no longer be at Tottenham.
He will not replace Igor Tudor.
However, Tottenham pushed forward and offered a commitment to build something substantial with substantial funding for one of England’s most supported clubs.
And now, tonight, according to Romano, they’re on the verge of getting the guy.
Tottenham to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as manager
Transfer officials gave a characteristically definitive update on the situation on their YouTube channel.
“De Zerbi is really, really close to being the next manager of Tottenham Hotspur,” Romano said.
“Well, it’s almost here.
“Tottenham have decided to go all out to sign De Zerbi, offering a huge financial offer, a huge contract offer, a five-year contract for De Zerbi, a very important annual salary and one of the highest salaries for a manager in the Premier League.
The final phrase “advanced discussion” and Romano’s trademark “Let’s go” cue tell the story.
It is no longer a question of whether De Zerbi will become Spurs manager, but when that announcement will come.
Chief executive Vinay Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange are in talks, and the club’s desire to have De Zerbi in place before the players return from international duty – giving De Zerbi around 10 days to prepare for the away game against Sunderland on April 12 – may have added to the urgency on both sides.
The complications that were present earlier today have not completely disappeared.
The issue of whether a relegation release clause is included in the contract remains unclear, and there continues to be fan opposition from three supporter groups – Proud Lilywhites, Women of the Lane and Spurs Reach – over De Zerbi’s public defense of Mason Greenwood during his time at Marseille.
These concerns are real and will not disappear with the announcement.
But the football decision appears to have been made. Tim Sherwood raised questions earlier today about whether De Zerbi’s expansive style was suited to the fight for survival, but admitted he would be the perfect long-term appointment if he could overcome the immediate challenges of staying awake.
Any degree of clarity is premature for a club that has gone from crisis to crisis this season. If Romano’s confidence is justified, and it always is, De Zerbi will be the man responsible for making it happen.
Aston Villa enter Tottenham’s race to sign Serie A star
The race is on…
