Tottenham Hotspur is reportedly on the verge of announcing Roberto De Zerbi as its new head coach, with sources indicating that the framework of a five-year deal has been agreed upon. Initially hesitant to join immediately, the Italian manager's discussions with Spurs have advanced significantly over the past 48 hours, leading to increased confidence within the club for a formal confirmation in the coming days. The proposed agreement with De Zerbi is said to include a substantial bonus tied to the team's ability to remain in the Premier League, although specific details regarding potential relegation provisions remain unclear.

The appointment comes at a critical time for Spurs, who currently sit 17th in the Premier League standings, merely one point and one position above the relegation zone. This precarious situation follows a dismal run of form, with the club securing only one victory in their last seven games across all competitions, which ultimately led to the departure of former coach Igor Tudor on Sunday.

De Zerbi is anticipated to arrive at Spurs' training ground later this week to commence his tenure, meeting players returning from international duty. This timing will allow him more than a week of training with the squad before their next fixture against Sunderland on April 12.

Tottenham views De Zerbi's impending arrival as a significant achievement, or 'coup,' given his esteemed reputation in England following his successful spell at Brighton. His tactical prowess has also attracted interest from other prominent European clubs. The 46-year-old tactician recently left Marseille by mutual consent last month, having guided the French club to fourth place in Ligue 1 and winning more than half of his 69 matches in charge.

His previous tenure at Brighton, from 2022 to 2024, was particularly notable, as he led the team to European qualification for the first time in their history with a sixth-place finish in the Premier League. However, his departure a year later, after an 11th-place finish, was reportedly due to disagreements with the Brighton board over transfer strategy, an incident that has hinted at a potentially volatile character and raised concerns among some Spurs supporters.

Further opposition to De Zerbi's appointment has emerged from three Spurs fan groups—Proud Lilywhites, Women of the Lane, and Spurs Reach. Their objections stem from his public support for Mason Greenwood, the former Manchester United forward who faced serious charges in October 2022, including attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault. These charges were dropped in February 2023 due to key witnesses withdrawing and new evidence emerging, after which Greenwood joined Marseille in 2024. De Zerbi subsequently defended Greenwood, calling him 'a good guy' who had paid a 'heavy price,' asserting that he knew 'a totally different person than the one who was described.'

Tottenham had also considered former coach Mauricio Pochettino for the role, but he remains committed to leading the USMNT into the World Cup. While several interim options, including Sean Dyche, Harry Redknapp, Glenn Hoddle, and Tim Sherwood, were linked with the position, Spurs prioritized a permanent appointment to bring stability to the head coach role. This decision follows a period of instability, with Thomas Frank being sacked in February after only taking charge last summer, and Igor Tudor lasting just 44 days in the role.