Tottenham Shelved De Zerbi Switch in November as Pochettino Emerges as Long-Term Target

Tottenham's boardroom turmoil deepens with fresh revelations that the club had an opportunity to make a managerial switch months earlier, only to stick with Thomas Frank through a catastrophic run of form that ultimately led to his sacking this week.

The north London side finally parted company with Frank following Tuesday's 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United, ending his tenure after an eight-game winless streak left Spurs languishing 16th in the Premier League, just five points clear of the drop zone. Yet according to reports, the writing was on the wall considerably earlier.

Back in November, following a particularly damaging 2-1 home loss to Fulham on the 29th—Tottenham's third consecutive defeat after setbacks against Arsenal and PSG—a senior executive reportedly urged the board to act. Roberto De Zerbi, then managing Marseille, was mooted as a ready-made replacement. The club chose to ignore the advice and persist with Frank, a decision that would haunt them through the winter months.

Frank's appointment had promised stability after the Ange Postecoglou era imploded, yet supporters never warmed to his pragmatic approach and uninspired football. His small-club mentality jarred with Tottenham's ambitions, and he was fortunate the axe didn't fall sooner given the mounting frustration.

Now, with an interim solution required, John Heitinga is among the options being considered to steady the ship until the summer. The club is racing to confirm an appointment before players return from a scheduled five-day break on Monday.

Looking beyond this season, Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as Tottenham's primary target. The former Spurs boss represents the board's long-term vision, with the club hoping to formalize terms once the World Cup concludes. De Zerbi remains an alternative should circumstances change, viewed as someone capable of making an immediate impact, though his volatile temperament is a consideration.

The Spanish press reports that Tottenham's strategy involves installing a caretaker manager for the remainder of the campaign, buying time to conclude negotiations with Pochettino and restore the club's winning culture.