Both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are on the lookout for a permanent manager for the 2026-27 Premier League season.
Ruben Amorim was relieved of his duties early in January as his troubled 14-month spell in charge of the club drew to a sad climax.
A month later, Tottenham sacked Thomas Frank after they dropped to 16th in the Premier League following their 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United.
Roberto de Zerbi is wanted by Tottenham and Manchester United after he left Marseille by mutual consent in February.
And now, Sky Sports have some interesting information on his future that could bode well for the North London outfit.
De Zerbi prefers Tottenham over Man United
De Zerbi was a popular figure in Marseille as he adopted an attractive brand of attacking football while also playing a hand in the development of young players.
However, things quickly went downhill for him in 2026 as Marseille were dumped out of the UEFA Champions League and also lost ground in the Ligue 1 title race.
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He’s no stranger to the Premier League, having managed Brighton for nearly two seasons before leaving at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
And now, Sky Sports reported on 27th Feb in their broadcast feed that De Zerbi prefers to join Tottenham over Manchester United if both clubs make an offer for him.
However, he only has one non-negotiable condition, which is for Tottenham to remain in the Premier League.
What of Pochettino?
Tottenham’s hierarchy will undoubtedly have a watchful eye on De Zerbi’s choice, which bodes well for them if he emerges as their number one candidate to succeed interim boss Igor Tudor.
However, Mauricio Pochettino recently talked up a potential return to Tottenham, putting the club in a precarious position.
The Argentine has already been there and done it at N17 and the fans have an emotional connection with him. However, it could be argued that Pochettino’s stock has dipped in recent years after his stints with Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.
De Zerbi, on the other hand, is held in high regard in footballing circles and is currently one of the best coaches in the world.
Given time and adequate backing in the transfer market, there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be a success at Tottenham as he has stamped his authority at each of the clubs he’s managed in his career so far.
Will Tottenham go for the tried-and-tested emotional option in Pochettino, or will they turn to De Zerbi’s enigmatic personality to breathe new life into the club? Time will tell.
