De Zerbi and Pochettino emerge as leading candidates as Tottenham hunt new manager

Tottenham have moved swiftly to part ways with Thomas Frank following a dismal run of form that has left the club flirting dangerously with the drop zone.

The dismissal came in the wake of Tuesday's 2-1 reverse at Newcastle United, capping off an alarming sequence of eight consecutive league matches without victory. Sitting in 16th place, Spurs face a genuine relegation scrap unless results improve dramatically in the coming weeks.

The question now centres on how the club will proceed with their next appointment. Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has clarified the situation, identifying two standout names as the frontrunners in bookmakers' markets.

Roberto De Zerbi, the former Brighton chief who recently departed Marseille, and ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino represent the leading contenders. Yet both figures appear more likely to be pursued as permanent solutions once the summer window opens.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano outlined De Zerbi's position: the Italian tactician remains highly regarded within the club's corridors and would welcome a Premier League return. However, he is a manager who demands clarity before committing—he needs assurances about the project's direction, long-term ambitions, and structural support.

Whilst Tottenham's interest is genuine, De Zerbi is casting his net wider across Europe, recognising that alternative opportunities may emerge before the summer arrives.

The Pochettino scenario presents a different complication. The US national team federation is reluctant to release their manager with the World Cup looming only months away. Any realistic summer move would hinge entirely on Tottenham's strategy, particularly whether they opt for an interim caretaker to navigate the remainder of the campaign.

The situation has drawn particular scrutiny following comments from Ange Postecoglou, who managed Spurs last season before Frank's appointment. The Australian suggested the club lacks the financial muscle to compete with genuine elite outfits, despite their impressive stadium and training infrastructure.

Postecoglou highlighted the wage cap restrictions that constrain Tottenham's recruitment, explaining that whilst transfer fees can be substantial, the salary structure prevents them from operating in the same sphere as the league's true heavyweights. He pointed to his own experience trying to strengthen the squad after finishing fifth—identifying targets like Pedro Neto, Bryan Mbeumo, and Antoine Semenyo proved impossible because the financial architecture simply didn't allow it.

Instead, Spurs assembled a squad featuring Dom Solanke alongside three teenagers, a reality check on the club's actual standing in the market pecking order.