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Tottenham are close to announcing Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach.

Sky Sports News understands talks between the club and the ex-Brighton boss went on through the night.

It is understood De Zerbi is the unanimous choice at board and ownership level, with Spurs' executive team convinced he has the necessary credentials to make an instant impact.

Is De Zerbi the right coach at the wrong time for Spurs?

Merson: De Zerbi best money Spurs will ever spend if they stay up

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De Zerbi is set to be tasked with saving Spurs from relegation after Igor Tudor failed to win a single Premier League game in a disastrous 44-day spell.

Last season's Europa League winners sit one point above the bottom three with seven games to play.

The former Brighton boss will become Spurs' third managerial appointment of the season - and his first game in charge is a trip to Sunderland in the Premier League on Sunday April 12, live on Sky Sports.

Spurs pushed hard to convince De Zerbi to take over before the summer, after the Italian had previously indicated he wanted to take a break when he left Marseille in February.

Several Spurs fan groups have urged the club to rethink appointing De Zerbi over his backing of Mason Greenwood when he was Marseille boss.

Former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood, who has repeatedly put his name in the frame to take over, has told Sky Sports FC that De Zerbi is the perfect choice long-term - but only if he can keep Spurs in the Premier League.

"I love his personality and the way his teams play," said the Sky Sports pundit. "But they can be open and can get hammered in some games - you can't get hammered between now and the end of the season.

"[De Zerbi] wanted to have a break after Marseille in February, but why didn't [Spurs] bring him in then? Why didn't they bring him in before Igor Tudor? You'd have given him another seven games to go at, then I would've had total confidence that he would keep them in the league."

De Zerbi's main task? Start winning & keep Spurs in the Premier League

Sky Sports News reporter Michael Bridge:

"There is no real long term if he can't succeed in the short term. Forget about, for now, putting Tottenham back into the European positions - they've been in Europe about 17, 18 times in the last 20-odd years. That's quite an impressive feat if you think about the amount of big clubs who aren't in Europe.

"Man Utd aren't in Europe currently, but he has to keep this club in the Premier League. It's serious now. He's got a decent squad. He's got a lot of injuries. It's not the squad of the [Mauricio] Pochettino era.

"It's not even the squad from the Conte era. He doesn't have Kane, he doesn't have Son, but he still has players that should not be nowhere near the bottom three.

"And if he does get the job, his first job will be at Sunderland and they could well be in the bottom three when he takes that team to the Stadium of Light.

"Keep it simple - he talks about it takes him weeks on end to get his philosophy over, his style of play over. He's an experienced manager. He's been a Premier League manager. He knows exactly what it's like to go to Sunderland away and his first home game will be against, would you believe it, Brighton and Hove Albion.

"He knows them pretty well too. Just to, it sounds simple, but just to start winning. And to make Tottenham great again."

Analysis: Maverick De Zerbi offers hope that Spurs need

Sky Sports' Adam Bate:

It is the final roll of the dice. De Zerbi or bust for Tottenham. To dare is to do. Is this combustible character the galvanising motivator that this situation demands? Perhaps not. But it is an appointment that intrigues, excites and - importantly - offers hope.

Igor Tudor was a pragmatist on paper who proved anything but on the pitch. De Zerbi at least brings Premier League experience and the prospect of transforming the club's fortunes in the short and long term. If he can keep Spurs up, it could be a turning point.

For good and for bad, his reputation precedes him. An innovator in terms of how the game is played, his name was the most frequently mentioned when this journalist was working on a project about the future of football tactics a couple of summers ago.

Coach after coach who was consulted for that project cited De Zerbi as an inspiration. "He is producing something that is maybe unique in football right now," said one. "He has probably given Pep Guardiola his biggest headache," added another.

Why? "The distances, the positions, the body shape, the intentions that each player has in possession." These ideas still feel progressive. "How you control the rhythm and progress through space will be big in the future." His teams tend to be at the vanguard.

And yet, while Marseille are a hugely supported club with a proud history, there is a reason why De Zerbi did not land a bigger job after leaving Brighton. While his predecessor was handed the keys to Chelsea, something held Europe's giants back.

A brand of football not necessarily proven to deliver the top trophies was one aspect but De Zerbi's nature - the ability to manage up and down - was the more significant factor. Could he fit in? Nothing that he did at Marseille will have assuaged those concerns.

There were the intermittent threats to quit, accusing his players of humiliating him with their performance as early as November of his first season. By April, there were reports that he had refused to train the team with the players going above him to complain.

Players were scrapping in training in August - Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe both being moved on. Marseille is a difficult club for anyone to manage but De Zerbi, 46, was often perceived to have inflamed things rather than being a calming influence.

Will Spurs fans be worried by any of this? Not really. They are desperate for anyone who can provide the club with a lift. It is in their hands, of course. And yet, they are vulnerable. Should West Ham go on any kind of run, it could prove too much for them.

If that is the case, a summer of recriminations awaits. Some supporters would have preferred De Zerbi last summer and many more will lament that they had to endure seven games of Tudor before turning to him now. This final roll of the dice has to work.

Is De Zerbi a good mid-season appointment?

Tottenham, who currently sit one point above the relegation zone, are in need of a head coach who can deliver instant results with just seven games left to secure their survival.

De Zerbi has established himself as a coach who instils a possession-based philosophy, creating teams that are praised for their attractive style of football.

However, the Italian's start at Brighton when he took over mid-season in 2022 following Graham Potter's departure would suggest he might struggle to have the required impact.

De Zerbi failed to win any of his first five Premier League games in charge of Brighton, drawing twice and losing three games, albeit facing a tough schedule.

When taking over at Serie A newcomers Benevento mid-season in 2017, De Zerbi's side were praised for the football they played, but were relegated from Italy's top flight.

De Zerbi failed to win any of his first nine games in charge of Benevento.

The Italian also struggled when taking over Palermo mid-season in 2016, winning just one of his 13 games before being sacked less than three months into the job.

'De Zerbi far from a safe pair of hands'

Ex-Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood speaking on Sky Sports News:

"I like him, I really do. I like his personality. I said many months ago that he would be the man to come into Tottenham.

"I would've picked him over Mauricio Pochettino for the long term because he plays that style that Tottenham fans want to play. He opens up the pitch, but not now. That style is not needed now, what they need now is a safe pair of hands. This is far from a safe pair of hands.

"I still like him. I love his personality and the way his teams play. But they can be open and can get hammered in some games - you can't get hammered between now and the end of the season.

"We saw his Marseille team play against Liverpool with an open style. He opens up the pitch, it's expansive the way he plays.

"We know how stubborn this man is. This man is hard to deal with, but I like him for that because he's got his own mind and does it his way, so that's my only reservation.

"I think if he can get them over the line, I think he's a perfect manager for Tottenham to have taking them forward.

"The main priority is just to keep them in the league. He would not be that firefighter-type manager who comes in for this seven-game period.

"He wanted to have a break after Marseille in February, but why didn't they bring him in then? Why didn't they bring him in before Igor Tudor? You'd have given him another seven games to go at, then I would've had total confidence that he would keep them in the league.

"They obviously didn't want him then. He was available, but they didn't want him."

The top stories and transfer rumours from Tuesday's newspapers...

PREMIER LEAGUE

Mauricio Pochettino has predicted Tottenham to avoid relegation, while leaving the door open for a return in the future, despite Spurs closing in on Roberto De Zerbi - Evening Standard

An Egypt official has revealed European giants Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have made offers to sign Mohamed Salah next season - Daily Mail

Bernardo Silva has reportedly informed Manchester City that he will leave at the end of this season - Mirror

Newcastle have been given a boost in their bid to keep hold of Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali this summer with Serie A clubs unlikely to be able to afford the 25-year-old - Talksport

Newcastle have reached a deal to sign young Independiente del Valle ace Johan Martinez - The Sun

Nathan Ake could be eyeing a move back to former club Chelsea - The Sun

Gary Lineker believes there is 'something personal' between Thomas Tuchel and Trent Alexander-Arnold, which led to the England head coach leaving the right-back out of his latest Three Lions squad - Daily Mail

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INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

The cheapest tickets at Euro 2028 held in the UK and Ireland are set to cost less than £30 - The Times

SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP

Forgotten Celtic star Odin Thiago Holm is reportedly closing in on a move away from Parkhead - Scottish Sun

ENGLAND RUGBY

England will lose their senior analyst to South Africa, just a month before facing the Springboks in Johannesburg - The Times

Paul Merson says Tottenham bringing in Roberto De Zerbi will be the best money the club have ever spent should they remain in the Premier League.

However, Merson also stresses there should be reservations as to whether the Spurs squad can adapt to the Italian's style of play.

Tottenham and De Zerbi are progressing in talks over the head coach vacancy, in their latest throw of the dice to avoid relegation. Spurs, who sit one point above the bottom three with seven games to go, want the former Brighton boss to take over permanently after Igor Tudor's exit on Sunday and have offered him a five-year contract.

After initially having reservations about taking over at this stage, De Zerbi is now open to taking the job. Spurs are pushing hard to persuade him, with discussions taking place on Monday.

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The 46-year-old was high on the list of preferred candidates for Spurs this summer but plans to pursue the appointment have been fast-tracked due to changing circumstances at the club.

Read below for Merson's thoughts on Tottenham's pursuit of De Zerbi with seven games to beat the drop...

'De Zerbi will be the best money Spurs have spent if they stay up'

I was quite bullish about Tottenham staying up and then after the Nottingham Forest game [Spurs losing 3-0 at home], you're like, 'Wow. They're in real trouble'.

It just shows you what a big club Tottenham is. I know they're struggling at the moment, but to get someone like De Zerbi, who's a top, top manager. To get him to come to the club just tells you everything about how big Tottenham is. So they've got a chance now.

I don't care how much money he gets. Whatever he gets, if he keeps them up, it's the best money they've ever, ever, ever spent.

He wanted to come in at the start of next season, he's going to come in now. So they have to throw the kitchen sink at him. They have to. They can't afford to go down.

If they go down, it's just unthinkable. So you've got to take that chance, and whatever the bonus is, it's a cup of tea in football terms, if he keeps them up. Because if he doesn't keep them up, everything goes out the window.

They are a business now. They get concerts. They've got go-karting, they've got American football. You've got to throw another four home games on top.

Then all of a sudden you can't be booking Robbie Williams to do a concert, because you might be in the Championship play-offs, you know.

So all this stuff changes now and it's huge, but it just shows you how big Tottenham are, because they can get him.

And if they can get him, this lad is a top, top manager that a lot of clubs would have. But Spurs have had good managers. They've had very good managers. And look where they are. They're 17th in the league.

'Have Spurs got time to play the De Zerbi way?'

The problem is he'll come in. And he is a good manager, but he plays a certain way.

He likes to open the game up. He likes the centre half to get on the ball and hold it.

When someone closes them down, then you pass the ball, and then we'll take that player out of the game. You're going to ask Tottenham players to do this, who are so low at the moment they could literally walk underneath a snake with a top hat on.

So you're asking people to do stuff that is not easy. It's not easy to play under De Zerbi. You watch Brighton play, and they play.

It was nice. It's not a Sean Dyche who comes in and goes 'right, bang, bang. I'm going to make your job so, so easy. You're going to play there, you're going to play there. Do your job. You work hard. We'll get results'.

This is completely different. You know, there'll be a book and De Zerbi will be saying 'you've got to pass there. When he goes there, you've got to drop in there and you drop back'. I don't know if they have time for that.

The worst thing that could ever happen to Spurs is if West Ham beat Wolves. Because when they drop into that bottom three, it's a different game. Then the pressure is severely, severely ramped up. They need West Ham not to win that game.

If Spurs get relegated, you can't blame De Zerbi

I know that a lot of the players won't be there next season. There won't be anybody who finishes the season and if Tottenham went and got relegated on the last day, those players will come out with a statement and go 'I'm staying, I'm going to get Tottenham back into the league. It was our fault'.

They'll go away to the World Cup and you'll never see them again.

But if they got relegated, no way would I sit there and say De Zerbi has done that or that's his fault.

There are seven games left there. They're not the easiest seven games in the world for anybody, let alone someone who's 17th in the league.

The thing that I always sit there and think is I'd love to have been in that meeting when Tudor went in there and he talked to the people who were in charge and how they sold it to him. That's what no one ever mentions. The hierarchy are the people who are picking the managers, and everybody else gets the blame.

Tottenham's remaining games

April 12: Sunderland (A) - Premier League, kick-off 2pm, live on Sky Sports

April 18: Brighton (H) - Premier League, kick-off 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports

April 25: Wolves (A) - Premier League, kick-off 3pm

May 2: Aston Villa (A) - Premier League

May 9: Leeds (H) - Premier League

May 17: Chelsea (H) - Premier League

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Roberto De Zerbi can deliver the football Tottenham fans crave. To dare is to do is a fitting description of the Italian’s philosophy. That counts for nothing, though, if he cannot save Spurs from relegation. This is the final roll of the dice. De Zerbi or bust.

Seven games to play and Spurs are one point above the drop. Igor Tudor was billed as a firefighter but only fanned the flames of a first top-flight relegation since 1977. The prospect of De Zerbi's appointment - with talks between the two parties progressing well - is exciting, but is he the right coach at the wrong time?

The former Brighton boss at least brings Premier League experience and hopes of a brighter future. If he can keep Spurs up, it could be a turning point. The alternative is unthinkable. It is hard to envisage De Zerbi sticking around in the Championship.

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Can De Zerbi deliver instant results?

Spurs have no margin for error but turn to a coach that embraces risk. De Zerbi's high-octane, possession-based style is non-negotiable and his past experiences suggest it is an approach that requires time. Spurs, clearly, do not have that luxury.

The Italian is walking into a far less-settled situation than he inherited at Brighton when taking over mid-season from Graham Potter in 2022 - but he still took time to pick up points on the south coast, failing to win any of his first five games.

His other mid-season appointments, both in Italy, began with even worse results.

At Palermo in 2016, he was sacked less than three months into the job, winning just once in 13 games, before taking Serie A newcomers Benevento down in 2017/18 after failing to win any of his first nine matches.

Spurs cannot afford a repeat scenario. De Zerbi's best return in seven games when taking over mid-season is eight points, which Opta's supercomputer predicts would be just enough to stay up.

De Zerbi has the potential to push Spurs back up the table if they do. He led Brighton to sixth in the Premier League, their highest top-flight finish, earning them qualification to Europe for the first time in their history.

Is De Zerbi a long-term option?

Spurs have offered De Zerbi a five-year contract, a clear indication that they view him as a head coach for the long term - but his track record suggests that is not the case.

De Zerbi's longest spell in management was a three-year spell at Italian club Sassuolo where he took charge of 120 games.

He has not surpassed 90 games at another club as head coach and half of his eight managerial jobs have lasted no longer than 30 games.

Spurs managers never tend to sick around too long. De Zerbi would be the third head coach appointment of the season, while Mauricio Pochettino was the last to stay for more than two seasons.

Will De Zerbi's reputation be an issue?

For good and for bad, De Zerbi's reputation precedes him. An innovator in terms of how the game is played, his name was the most frequently mentioned in interviews for a Sky Sports project about the future of football tactics a couple of summers ago.

Coach after coach cited De Zerbi as an inspiration. "He is producing something that is maybe unique in football right now," said one. "He has probably given Pep Guardiola his biggest headache," added another.

Why? "The distances, the positions, the body shape, the intentions that each player has in possession." These ideas still feel progressive. "How you control the rhythm and progress through space will be big in the future." His teams tend to be at the vanguard.

And yet, while Marseille are a hugely supported club with a proud history, there is a reason why De Zerbi did not land a bigger job after leaving Brighton. While his predecessor was handed the keys to Chelsea, something held Europe's giants back.

A brand of football not necessarily proven to deliver the top trophies was one aspect but De Zerbi's nature - the ability to manage up and down - was the more significant factor. Could he fit in? Nothing that he did at Marseille will have assuaged those concerns.

There were the intermittent threats to quit, accusing his players of humiliating him with their performance as early as November of his first season. By April, there were reports that he had refused to train the team with the players going above him to complain.

Players were scrapping each other in August - Adrien Rabiot and Jonathan Rowe both being moved on. Marseille is a difficult club for anyone to manage but De Zerbi, 46, was often perceived to have inflamed things rather than being a calming influence.

Will Spurs fans be worried by any of this? Not really. They are desperate for anyone who can provide the club with a lift.

If that is the case, a summer of recriminations awaits. Some supporters would have preferred De Zerbi last summer and many more will lament that they had to endure seven games of Tudor before turning to him now. This final roll of the dice has to work.

Tottenham are in talks with Roberto De Zerbi about becoming their next head coach.

Relegation-threatened Spurs, who sit one point above the bottom three with seven games to go, want the former Brighton boss to take over permanently after Igor Tudor's exit on Sunday and have offered him a five-year contract.

De Zerbi is now open to taking the job after previously indicating he wanted to wait until the summer to consider his options. Spurs are pushing hard to persuade him - with discussions taking place on Monday.

Spurs are hopeful of confirming their third managerial appointment of the season this week before the players return from international duty. Their preference is for a permanent appointment after Tudor's disastrous seven games and 44 days in charge.

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Sky Sports News has reported for several weeks that all options have been under consideration, including accelerating the appointment of a summer target.

De Zerbi is high among those, along with former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, who has a contract as USA boss until after this summer's World Cup.

Former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood, who has repeatedly put his name in the frame to take over, has told Sky Sports FC that De Zerbi is the perfect candidate if he can keep Spurs in the Premier League.

"I love his personality and the way his teams play," said the Sky Sports pundit. "But they can be open and can get hammered in some games - you can't get hammered between now and the end of the season.

"[De Zerbi] wanted to have a break after Marseille in February, but why didn't [Spurs] bring him in then? Why didn't they bring him in before Igor Tudor? You'd have given him another seven games to go at, then I would've had total confidence that he would keep them in the league."

Several Spurs fan groups have urged the club to rethink any potential De Zerbi appointment over his backing of Mason Greenwood when he was Marseille boss.

De Zerbi having a change of heart?

De Zerbi is available after leaving Marseille in February, but Sky in Italy reported last week that he was not expected to join Tottenham - or any other club - before the end of the season.

The 46-year-old had intended to avoid an immediate return to football so he could evaluate his options in the summer.

But it appears he has had a change of heart and could now join relegation-threatened Spurs.

The north London club sit just one place and one point above the relegation zone with only seven Premier League games left.

Tottenham are aiming to avoid relegation to the second tier for the first time since 1977, with their next match at Sunderland on April 12, live on Sky Sports.

De Zerbi could be set for a return to the Premier League, having managed Brighton for nearly two seasons, where he achieved the club's highest-ever top-flight finish as they secured European qualification for the first time in their history after finishing sixth in the 2022/23 campaign.

The ex-Shakhtar Donetsk boss then left the Seagulls at the end of the following season after an 11th-placed finish and a run to the Europa League last 16.

De Zerbi then joined Marseille in the summer of 2024 before leaving by mutual consent last month after their Champions League league phase exit and a 5-0 thrashing at Paris Saint-Germain, which left them fourth in Ligue 1 having finished runners-up to PSG the season before.

'De Zerbi far from a safe pair of hands - but why didn't Spurs appoint him earlier?'

Ex-Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood speaking on Sky Sports News:

"For anyone going in now, you have to put a question mark on it because you've only got seven games left.

"I like him, I really do. I like his personality. I said many months ago that he would be the man to come into Tottenham.

"I would've picked him over Mauricio Pochettino for the long term because he plays that style that Tottenham fans want to play. He opens up the pitch, but not now. That style is not needed now, what they need now is a safe pair of hands. This is far from a safe pair of hands.

"I still like him. I love his personality and the way his teams play. But they can be open and can get hammered in some games - you can't get hammered between now and the end of the season.

"We saw his Marseille team play against Liverpool with an open style. He opens up the pitch, it's expansive the way he plays.

"We know how stubborn this man is. This man is hard to deal with, but I like him for that because he's got his own mind and does it his way, so that's my only reservation.

"I think if he can get them over the line, I think he's a perfect manager for Tottenham to have taking them forward.

"The main priority is just to keep them in the league. He would not be that firefighter-type manager who comes in for this seven-game period.

"He wanted to have a break after Marseille in February, but why didn't they bring him in then? Why didn't they bring him in before Igor Tudor? You'd have given him another seven games to go at, then I would've had total confidence that he would keep them in the league.

"They obviously didn't want him then. He was available, but they didn't want him."

Is De Zerbi a good mid-season appointment?

Tottenham, who currently sit one point above the relegation zone, are in need of a head coach who can deliver instant results with just seven games left to secure their survival.

De Zerbi has established himself as a coach that instils a possession-based philosophy, creating teams that are praised for their attractive style of football.

However, the Italian's start at Brighton when he took over mid-season in 2022 following Graham Potter's departure would suggest he might struggle to have the required impact.

De Zerbi failed to win any of his first five Permier League games in charge of Brighton, drawing twice and losing three games, albeit facing a tough schedule.

When taking over at Serie A newcomers Benevento mid-season in 2017, De Zerbi's side were praised for the football they played, but were relegated from Italy's top flight.

De Zerbi failed to win any of his first nine games in charge of Benevento.

The Italian also struggled when taking over Palermo mid-season in 2016, winning just one of his 13 games before being sacked less than three months into the job.

Why Spurs fan groups are against De Zerbi appointment

Three Tottenham fan groups have previously urged the club to rethink any potential appointment of De Zerbi due to his past backing of Marseille forward Mason Greenwood.

Fan groups Proud Lilywhites, Women of the Lane and Spurs Reach all expressed their concerns about the Italian after he worked with Greenwood at Marseille.

Ex-Manchester United forward Greenwood was charged in October 2022 with one count of attempted rape, one count of controlling and coercive behaviour and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online.

The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges in February 2023 owing to a "combination of the withdrawal of key witnesses" and due to "no realistic prospect of conviction". Greenwood has since resumed his career and joined Marseille in 2024.

In November, De Zerbi described Greenwood as a "good guy" who had paid a "heavy price" and added: "It saddens me what happened in his life, because I know a totally different person than the one who was described."

Spurs' LGBTQI+ fan group Proud Lilywhites said: "We've seen the reports linking Roberto De Zerbi with the Tottenham job and honestly, it doesn't sit right.

"As Proud Lilywhites, we care deeply about this club, not just what happens on the pitch, but what Tottenham stands for off it. This isn't just about results or style of football. It's about values, identity, and the kind of people we choose to represent us.

"We all want Spurs to move forward, but how we do that matters. When someone in that position publicly defends a player like Mason Greenwood, and frames it in a way that downplays the seriousness of what happened, it matters, not just in isolation but in what it signals.

"We are proud of the progress that's been made in making football more inclusive and welcoming.

"That progress matters, and it cannot be compromised or treated as secondary.

"We are not asking for perfection. We are asking for accountability, transparency and leadership that reflects the values this club claims to stand for. All together, always. That has to mean something. No to De Zerbi."

Women of the Lane added: "We want to be clear about how this [speculation] is landing with many women and allies in our community.

"De Zerbi has publicly defended Mason Greenwood in a way that downplays the seriousness of male violence against women and girls. That raises serious questions about judgement and leadership.

"This is not an appointment Tottenham Hotspur should make."

A Spurs Reach statement read: "Comments previously attributed to Roberto De Zerbi, including public remarks defending and contextualising Mason Greenwood following serious allegations have been widely criticised for appearing to minimise the gravity of violence against women.

"Regardless of intent, framing of this nature risks normalising harmful attitudes, diminishing the experiences of survivors and sending a deeply concerning message about what is tolerated within the game.

"We all want the club to progress but it must do so in a way that reflects its values. No to De Zerbi."

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Igor Tudor's departure from Tottenham after just seven matches is no surprise, but Spurs must get this final roll of the dice right to maintain their Premier League status, says Sky Sports News' Michael Bridge...

I do think it was inevitable - what we wanted to know was when they were going to do it. Of course, Igor Tudor was informed that his father had passed away literally seconds after Spurs lost against Nottingham Forest and he laid his father, Mario, to rest in Croatia on Wednesday.

So, you'd imagine that the Tottenham board had decided that they were going to make another change, one final roll of the dice in this terrible season.

Spurs have got to think of themselves. Relegation is absolutely unthinkable, but it's so very possible.

Tudor was very well liked within the club; his exit is a mutual decision and he leaves on good terms with the hierarchy.

Igor Tudor leaves Tottenham after 44 days

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You saw an improvement against Liverpool away, which was a very unexpected 1-1 draw, a good performance in the second leg against Atletico Madrid, but the pressure was off a little bit there.

Then it came to that key game, Nottingham Forest, and you had supporters outside the ground pre-match urging the team on, but they didn't get a reaction.

Spurs played alright in the first half, but when they went 1-0 down their heads really dropped. The second half was one to forget.

They could be in the relegation zone by the time they go to the Stadium of Light in two weeks.

Next head coach has plenty of time to settle in

Spurs are now in talks with Roberto De Zerbi, with a five-year contract being offered to the former Brighton and Marseille boss.

Spurs are pushing hard to persuade De Zerbi and are hopeful of confirming an appointment before the players return from the international break.

The squad will then have plenty of time with their new boss ahead of the absolutely massive match against Sunderland, live on Sky Sports, on April 12.

Tottenham had to ask the question: 'Do we have a better chance of staying in the Premier League with or without Igor Tudor?' They've decided the latter.

With one point from five league games in charge, it's hard to argue with that decision.

Tottenham fans know this is more deep rooted

I think the vast majority of supporters will be wishing Tudor well. Not just because of this awful news regarding his father, but because the fans realise this is more deeply rooted.

These are years of recruitment not going right. Players who have left the club and those coming in are not replacing them adequately. This is about injury after injury. Their captain getting a four-game suspension. Their stand-in captain getting sent off against Crystal Palace.

Tudor and other managers before have said they haven't known anything like this. Managers are saying it often. At the moment, it looks a very difficult job indeed. The job over the next seven games is extremely tough.

PL experience vital - who next for Tottenham?

It doesn't necessarily need to be someone with the 'Spurs DNA'. I don't think it needs to be someone who sings Chas and Dave in their car. It's got to be someone with Premier League experience. De Zerbi fits that profile.

Someone who knows what it is like to go to Wolves away. Someone who knows what it is like to face Leeds at home in a few weeks. Brighton in a couple of weeks.

We know Igor Tudor was appointed to put out fires. He did it at Juventus and Lazio. But he hasn't done it with a club that was trying to stay in the Premier League.

The fact is, it didn't happen. They lost against Crystal Palace. They lost against Fulham. From the very start it was looking extremely difficult for him.

Tottenham is still a very attractive club to many managers. That's why Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho took the role. It's why Mauricio Pochettino has said he would love to go back. It's why De Zerbi is in talks.

These are two very different Tottenham Hotspurs. It's a big club, sure, but it could be one of the riskiest moves you make in management.

The new boss could be the one who sees Spurs relegated. Or, in the summer, the club stay in the Premier League and big names come in for it again.

Tottenham's remaining seven games

April 12: Sunderland (a), Premier League - kick-off 2.15pm, live on Sky Sports

April 18: Brighton (h), Premier League - kick-off 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports

April 25: Wolves (a), Premier League - kick-off 3pm

May 2: Aston Villa (a), Premier League - kick-off 12.30pm

May 9: Leeds (h), Premier League, kick-off 3pm

May 17: Chelsea (a), Premier League, kick-off 3pm

May 24: Everton (h), Premier League, kick-off 4pm

Sky Sports News special: Inside Spurs

On Thursday, April 2 at 7pm, Sky Sports News will be airing a special programme about Spurs' issues with their ever-present Premier League status under serious threat.