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Former Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly poised to take over as Tottenham Hotspur’s new head coach ahead of the club’s return to Premier League action.

According to reports from Italy, Tottenham have presented a formal offer to the Italian tactician to become the next manager at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The 46-year-old is expected to accept a five-year contract with Spurs soon. The North London side currently sit just one point and one place above the Premier League relegation zone after a dreadful season.

Tottenham’s campaign has been plagued by poor form. Thomas Frank’s appointment last summer did not yield the desired results, and interim manager Igor Tudor managed only one point from five games before mutually parting ways with the club over the weekend.

Spurs suffered a 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in their most recent fixture before the March international break, during which an approach was made to the out-of-work De Zerbi.

The Italian coach most recently managed Olympique de Marseille in France, guiding them to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and securing Champions League qualification last season.

However, De Zerbi’s time at Marseille ended prematurely after a reported fallout with players, leading to his departure midway through the 2025/26 season. His side also exited the Champions League in the group stage that campaign.

Sean Dyche was also considered as a potential replacement for Tudor, but De Zerbi now appears to be the frontrunner to take charge for Tottenham’s final seven games of the season, at least initially.

As per Gianluca Di Marzio, De Zerbi is currently weighing up the five-year proposal from Tottenham, with a final decision expected in the coming days.

FourFourTwo has described the long-term deal as a significant risk, given that there remains a very real possibility of Spurs being relegated to the Championship next season.

The proposed contract is expected to be financially attractive, reflecting Tottenham’s precarious bargaining position. A five-year commitment would therefore represent a major financial investment by the club.

De Zerbi, however, does not have a reputation as a relegation battle specialist and has been seen as a polarising figure during previous managerial stints.

While his tactical approach could potentially expose Tottenham’s defensive frailties, his emphasis on attacking football and structured build-up play might bring improvement in the team’s offensive output.

Tottenham’s remaining fixtures this season are: Sunderland (away), Brighton (home), Wolves (away), Aston Villa (away), Leeds United (home), Chelsea (away), and Everton (home).