Roberto De Zerbi's summer transfer campaign at Tottenham has turned into a complete disaster for the London club, reminiscent of Scrooge McDuck swimming in gold coins. Given a free hand by the hierarchy and splashing out on new signings, the Italian manager has somehow managed to plunge the team to the bottom of the Premier League standings. Now, after the international break, the Spurs boss faces a personal nightmare - a high-stakes managerial clash against struggling Manchester United, led by Michael Carrick, a game that is already being dubbed the El Sackico survival derby in Foggy Albion.
Bookmakers wasted no time in opening betting lines on De Zerbi's potential sacking, forming a list of candidates ready to take on the troubled London project. Notably, two former managers are in the mix, and the shortlist overlaps significantly with Manchester United’s own potential targets.
Completing the top ten candidates is Mauricio Pochettino. Despite his commitments to a new contract with the US national team, the Argentine has never hidden his emotional connection to the club. There’s a growing sentiment in the football community that neither Spurs nor the coach can truly turn the page until they put a full-stop on their shared trophy hopes, even if a reunion risks damaging past legacies.
Even more shocking is the inclusion of Antonio Conte, another ex-boss of the North London side, ranked sixth in the betting, whose return after a controversial departure seemed an utterly improbable scenario. Marcelo Bielsa and Oliver Glasner are placed eighth and ninth respectively, while Marco Silva sits in seventh.
The fourth and fifth spots are held by Germany's head coach Julian Nagelsmann and Eddie Howe. In the top three, we find Arne Slot alongside Kieran McKenna, who boasts unique ties with both Tottenham, where he played and coached, and Manchester United.
However, the surprise frontrunner for the Tottenham job, according to bookmakers, is Brighton's Fabian Hürzeler, whose tactical acumen in the Premier League has made him a prime target for top clubs amid high-profile sackings.
