Fabrizio Romano reveals Roberto De Zerbi to Tottenham update: Mauricio Pochettino also mentioned

Fabrizio Romano has revealed whether Roberto De Zerbi is in line to replace Igor Tudor at Tottenham Hotspur, and what is happening with Mauricio Pochettino.

It has been widely reported that Tudor is expected to exit Tottenham Hotspur during the international break after a nightmare run since taking over from Thomas Frank.

According to some sources, Roberto De Zerbi is Spurs’ top managerial target to take over permanently.

However, others have insisted that Mauricio Pochettino remains Spurs’ preferred candidate for the permanent role even though the club have made contact with the former Brighton boss.

Why Roberto De Zerbi is a more tempting option for Tottenham than Mauricio Pochettino

Over the past 24 hours, reports have indicated that De Zerbi would be open to taking over at Tottenham, but only if the club manage to stay in the Premier League.

Fabrizio Romano has now clarified what Spurs’ stance is, explaining that the Italian’s immediate availability makes him a more tempting option than Pochettino, whose contract with USA runs until the World Cup.

Romano told TEAMtalk: “Look, what I can tell you about the Tottenham job and Roberto De Zerbi is that, let’s be clear, between the past and the future.

“The past is that in the last three, four, five weeks, even six, Tottenham have considered since they fired Thomas Frank, have considered De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino as the two main targets to become the future head coach of Tottenham Hotspur. So, the idea was to go for one of these two.

“Roberto De Zerbi has always been considered the ideal candidate, also because Pochettino is going to be busy obviously, with the US men’s national team at least till the end of the World Cup.

“So, it’s not easy in this moment to plan with Pochettino, with Pochettino being already busy with his job with the US men national team. At the same time, with Roberto De Zerbi is different because De Zerbi is free.”

Is De Zerbi open to an immediate move to Spurs?

On Monday evening, The Times reported that Tottenham have held talks over appointing De Zerbi as the permanent head coach immediately.

The outlet explained that Spurs have considered offering the 46-year-old a contract with a break clause in the event of relegation, but Romano has now revealed that the Italian has no plans of taking a job before the summer.

The journalist added: “De Zerbi could eventually be an option already immediately, but what I can tell you is that De Zerbi is, was a top target for Tottenham, but at the moment, Roberto De Zerbi is still not keen on taking a job now in the middle of the season.

“That’s something that Roberto De Zerbi at this stage, from what I am told, doesn’t want to do. So, let’s see what’s going to happen next, maybe in the summer. I am sure there is going to be plenty of interest.”

• READ MORE: Tottenham could sign their ‘ideal deep-lying playmaker’ for just £30m this summer

The post Fabrizio Romano reveals Roberto De Zerbi to Tottenham update: Mauricio Pochettino also mentioned appeared first on Spurs Web.