Tottenham Hotspur find themselves in a familiar and uncomfortable position as the season continues to drift away from them. With just one win in their last six matches across all competitions and no victories at all in 2026, the mood around the club has grown increasingly tense.
Sitting 14th in the Premier League after 21 games, Spurs are nowhere near where they expected to be, and questions are beginning to surface about the future of Thomas Frank.
For now, the former Brentford manager remains in charge, and there is no immediate indication that the club plans to act. However, football is a results-driven business, and patience can wear thin very quickly.
A few more disappointing performances without wins could change the conversation entirely and push Tottenham toward yet another managerial reset. Given the club’s recent history, that possibility feels all too real.
Against this backdrop, reports have emerged linking Tottenham with Olympique Marseille head coach Roberto de Zerbi. The Italian has been identified as a potential replacement should the situation under Frank continue to deteriorate.
It is a name that will excite many Spurs supporters, not only because of his current success in France but also due to his impressive work during his time in England.
De Zerbi has made a strong impression since taking charge at Marseille. His side currently sit third in Ligue 1, firmly among the leading teams in the division, and they are also well placed in the UEFA Champions League, sitting inside the positions that would take them into the knockout stage play-offs.
Those results have come alongside a clear and entertaining identity, something that has sometimes been missing at Tottenham this season.
The Italian coach is known for his bold, possession-based approach, encouraging his teams to dominate the ball, play through pressure, and exploit spaces high up the pitch. That philosophy would suit Tottenham’s squad, which includes several technically gifted and creative players capable of thriving in such a system.
Spurs have attacking options who enjoy freedom and movement, and a coach like De Zerbi could bring out the best in them.
Crucially, De Zerbi is not an unknown quantity in the Premier League. His spell at Brighton & Hove Albion earned widespread praise, as he transformed the Seagulls into one of the most exciting teams in the league despite working with relatively limited resources.
He showed an ability to improve players, adapt tactically, and compete against bigger clubs without abandoning his principles. That experience would give Tottenham confidence that he could handle the demands and pressures of managing in north London.
The respect De Zerbi commands within the game is also telling. Pep Guardiola once described him as one of the most influential managers of recent times, a comment that speaks volumes about how highly he is rated among elite coaches. For a club like Tottenham, often searching for a clear footballing identity, that kind of endorsement carries weight.
That said, any move for De Zerbi would not be straightforward. Marseille are unlikely to allow their manager to leave in the middle of the season, especially while they remain competitive on multiple fronts. A summer approach feels far more realistic, though even then Spurs would likely need to pay a significant fee to release him from his contract.
For now, Thomas Frank still has time to turn things around. A strong run of results could quickly change the narrative and ease the pressure. But football moves fast, and Tottenham appear to be keeping their options open.
If the club does decide to make a change, Roberto de Zerbi’s name is one that fits both the ambition of the project and the style of football many fans crave. Whether that interest turns into something more concrete will depend on what happens next on the pitch.
