de zerbi is among the names circulating as Tottenham weigh whether to stick with interim head coach Igor Tudor or change course after a damaging 3-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest on Sunday (ET), leaving Spurs one point above the Premier League relegation zone. The club’s senior executives — chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, sporting director Johan Lange and the Lewis family overseeing affairs — face a defining call before the next Premier League fixture, away to Sunderland on 12 April (ET). The choice is framed by a run of poor results that has left Tudor under major threat.
Immediate fallout from the Forest defeat
Tudor’s tenure has produced only one win in seven matches and included several heavy losses; his position is under intense scrutiny after the 3-0 reverse on Sunday (ET). Vinai Venkatesham, Johan Lange and the Lewis family are tasked with deciding whether to back Tudor or pursue a replacement, aware that another mistake could deepen the club’s crisis. Tottenham sit perilously close to the relegation zone and face a short window to act before the Sunderland trip on 12 April (ET).
The situation has prompted public comment from former players and managers. Danny Murphy, ex-Tottenham midfielder, said: “I think it’s impossible for him to stay. I really do. ” Former Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou said: “I tuned in and I watched. It was an uncomfortable watch, I didn’t enjoy it, that’s for sure… They have some fighting to do and they have the quality to get out. They need a circuit-breaker for sure. ” Harry Redknapp has also indicated willingness to return, saying: “Spurs know where I am. ” Each reaction tightens the spotlight on the boardroom decision-makers.
De Zerbi: timing, interest and limitations
Roberto De Zerbi has made clear he intends to avoid an immediate return to football after leaving Marseille last month (ET) and is not expected to take another job before the end of the season. That approach means de zerbi would likely only be available as a summer appointment rather than an instant remedy for the current fight for survival. The former Brighton boss is said to want time to evaluate options in the summer, which removes him as a short-term fix for Tottenham’s firefighting task.
With Tudor under pressure, the club must weigh whether to pursue an interim replacement or target a permanent candidate for the summer. If the board seeks a long-term solution, de zerbi remains a plausible option in principle, but his stated intention to pause until the close of the season limits any immediate recruitment that would change the direction before the final run of fixtures. That timetable forces executives to balance short-term survival choices with long-term selection strategy.
What happens next
Decisions now fall to Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange, with the Lewis family overseeing affairs and monitoring the impact of any move on the run-in. If Tudor is removed, the club must decide whether an interim appointment or a permanent hire can realistically stop the slide with only a handful of matches remaining; if Tudor remains, the board will need to identify a pathway to recovery that restores confidence with supporters and players alike. Eyes will be on the next match away to Sunderland on 12 April (ET) as the immediate deadline for action.
Roberto de zerbi remains a headline candidate for the summer, but de zerbi’s stated plan to wait until after the season means Tottenham may be forced to consider other short-term or interim solutions before committing to a longer-term rebuild under de zerbi.
