Tottenham have reportedly been rejected by Roberto De Zerbi in their search to replace Ange Postecoglou. Spurs announced on Friday that they had parted ways with the Aussie, just weeks after he led the club to Europa League success over Manchester United.
A poor overall Premier League campaign proved to weigh too heavily on the mind of Daniel Levy when deciding whether to keep his faith in Postecoglou for another season and hope that his side ending their silverware trophy drought would kickstart a successful period for the club.
Tottenham are now scouring the market for a replacement, and several options have already been shortlisted by the higher powers at the club. Reports have suggested ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has come under consideration, as well as Fulham manager Marco Silva.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Spurs also made an approach for former Brighton boss De Zerbi ‘in recent days’. However, the Italian quickly rejected the approach as he is keen to remain at Marseille.
De Zerbi led the club to a second-place finish in the Ligue 1 last season, behind Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, and has been given immense spending power at the Stade Velodrome.
Spurs will therefore focus their attention on their ‘leading candidate’ Thomas Frank. Tottenham are hoping to advance in talks to sign the Brentford manager soon, having shortlisted the Danish boss as a key target earlier this season.
Frank has previously snubbed approaches from suitors in years gone by in favour of remaining with the Bees, though it remains to be seen whether he is ready to make the next step in his career and inherit a trophy-winning squad with momentum behind them.
However, there are suggestions that Tottenham’s next manager may have a tough task on their hands given the sheer impact that Postecoglou’s departure has had. The Telegraph report that Spurs are at risk of a ‘player revolt’ as a result of the decision to sack the ex-Celtic boss and one of his successor’s first tasks will be ‘repairing the damage’.
Some Tottenham stars are said to be looking to leave the club as a result of Postecoglou’s sacking, being left unhappy by the decision itself and also how the matter was handled – with the 59-year-old left in the dark over his future for two weeks after guiding his side to Europa League glory.
