De Zerbi Deal Nears Completion as Tottenham Weighs Shock Frank Return

The paperwork on Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham appointment appears ready for signing, but not before a rather eyebrow-raising suggestion has emerged from the commentary box.

The Italian tactician, initially hesitant about wading into a relegation dogfight, now finds himself on the verge of accepting a handsome five-year contract at Spurs. The package includes a signing-on fee and a survival bonus—incentives the club clearly hopes will sweeten the pill of inheriting a squad languishing just one point clear of the drop zone.

De Zerbi's arrival will mark the third managerial change in recent weeks. Thomas Frank's tenure ended in February following a dire run of form that saw Tottenham win just two of their previous seventeen league matches. Igor Tudor stepped in as a short-term firefighter, but his interim spell lasted merely seven games and 44 days before the club decided to move on.

The incoming manager faces no small task. Beyond the immediate survival scramble this season, a substantial rebuild looms, with reports suggesting significant transfer funds will be required to reshape the squad according to De Zerbi's vision.

Enter Martin Keown with a curious proposition. The pundit, who has scarcely disguised his Arsenal sympathies this term, reckons Frank might actually merit a second chance at the helm. His reasoning: the ex-Brentford boss was marginally less dreadful than Tudor.

"I'm not sure they enjoyed it when the last manager came in, he was quite scathing of the group," Keown told talkSPORT. "Maybe it's an arm around the shoulder a little bit here? It certainly didn't work last time."

He continued: "I know people say you should never go back, but Thomas Frank might be allowed back in the building to actually say, 'Okay, let's try and pick up where we left off'. I know that they lost a few games, but it was certainly a lot better than we saw from recent games."

Back in the realm of serious analysis, Rio Ferdinand has issued a stark warning to De Zerbi about the Spurs post. While praising the manager as an innovative tactician, Ferdinand questioned whether Tottenham represents the right environment for him right now.

"I wouldn't go to Spurs right now," Ferdinand stated on his YouTube channel. "I just think it is a club that's in such a bad way and there have been far too many managers that have failed there."

Ferdinand's critique extended beyond mere managerial churn. He highlighted a fundamental disconnect at the club: their self-perception as a major force sits uncomfortably with their spending power and on-pitch output.

"They call themselves a big club or wanting to be a big club, they're bemused when they're not mentioned in the big club bracket," he explained. "But they don't spend like a big club to attract the biggest players and then they wonder why they're not in the top echelon of football clubs in that sense, when you look at them on the pitch and their output."