Managing Tottenham as Roberto De Zerbi reunites with £61m star and makes one key change

Tottenham are on the hunt for a new manager after the sacking of Thomas Frank, and Roberto De Zerbi's name has been thrown into the equation

Roberto De Zerbi has been linked with the vacant managerial position at Tottenham following Thomas Frank's sacking. And the former Brighton boss could bring about some changes in north London.

After a dismal season that has Spurs just five points off the relegation places, head coach Frank was shown the exit this week. The ex-Brentford head coach only arrived in June and endured just eight months in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hotseat.

With Champions League knockout games to contend with and the urgent need to improve domestic results, the club are searching for a new manager and one name mentioned by plenty is De Zerbi. The Italian left Marseille by mutual consent on the same day Frank was sacked and he has impressed in the English top flight before.

football.london takes a look at what the coming months and summer transfer window could have in store if De Zerbi were to be Frank's successor. This includes one key recruitment and a change he implemented on the south coast.

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Lure Kaoru Mitoma to Spurs

With the January window shut, if De Zerbi were to arrive there would be no immediate new additions. But come the summer, there is one star Spurs could look to snap up.

Kaoru Mitoma was revolutionised under De Zerbi at Brighton and his 2022/23 campaign introduced him as one of the Premier League's finest wide players. Even after the Italian left, he did not go off the boil and bagged 10 league goals last season.

The hype around Mitoma has been slightly quelled by a series of injuries as during De Zerbi's last season in charge the Japanese star suffered a severe back issue. He was also absent at the end of last year thanks to a foot injury.

But at 28, he still has plenty of years ahead of him and whilst he isn't making seismic waves at the moment, his quality remains. He was the subject of a reported £61million bid from the Saudi Pro League last year and although this was rejected, Brighton could be persuaded to drop their price considering he is out of contract in 2027.

If Mitoma wishes to reunite with De Zerbi, then a move to Spurs could work. A front three of Mitoma on the left, Dominic Solanke through the middle and Mohammed Kudus off the right would cause any defence to shake.

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Develop youth

Tottenham have a plethora of promising young talent. Of those who have already become key first-team members, there are Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray.

But away from this pair, academy stars Mikey Moore, currently on loan with Rangers, and Luca Williams-Barnett are tipped for great things. Not to mention the on-loan Luka Vuskovic, who has emerged as one of Europe's finest young defensive talents.

If De Zerbi were to become Spurs boss, both throughout the rest of this season and into the following campaign, he could help nurture such promise as he did with Brighton. Previous managers have perhaps not prioritised youth as he has in the past.

During his time at the Amex Stadium, the Italian helped craft a young, 20-year-old Moises Caicedo into one of the world's best holding midfielders and he was later offloaded to Chelsea for £115m. Alexis Mac Allister was only 23 when De Zerbi took over and the decision to move him higher up the pitch earned him a move to Liverpool.

Joao Pedro, Julio Enciso, Jan Paul van Hecke and Evan Ferguson are a few stars who, at a young age, prospered under the 46-year-old. Who is to say he could not spark such improvement at Tottenham?