Multiple reports across England have confirmed that Roberto De Zerbi will be named Tottenham Hotspur manager imminently.
The Italian is set to replace Igor Tudor at the helm, who left the club by mutual consent on Sunday.
A lot has been said about the former Brighton boss this week as he prepares to put pen to paper on a five-year deal.
De Zerbi is set to become the third-highest-paid manager in the Premier League after Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola, proving that Tottenham did, in fact, throw the kitchen sink at him to secure his signature.
There were also reports of a potential relegation clause in his contract, with the North London outfit running the serious risk of losing their top-flight status.
And now, if reports from England are to be believed, no such clause has been included in his deal.
No relegation clause for De Zerbi
Tottenham considered Sean Dyche but opted for the Italian, who is set to jump straight back into the dugout after leaving his role at Marseille last month.
A lucrative five-year deal is on offer for him, but there was speculation that a relegation clause would give him the insurance policy to walk if Tottenham drop down to the Championship.
However, the BBC have confirmed that De Zerbi doesn’t have such a clause in his contract, which is good news for Tottenham as he has seemingly committed for the long haul.
That said, one look at De Zerbi’s track record will tell you that he doesn’t tend to stay at clubs for too long.
That, coupled with the fact that he’s a fiery character, could mean Spurs will have to shell out a hefty sum if he’s sacked over the course of his five-year deal.
What next for De Zerbi?
An agreement has been reached in principle between all parties involved and De Zerbi is set to travel to Hotspur Way during the second half of the week.
Most players are still on international duty, but Tottenham’s injured contingent and the ones who didn’t represent their countries will be in the building to meet their new manager.
The North London outfit have already been knocked out of the FA Cup, so they don’t play this weekend.
And considering their position in the Premier League, it is surely a blessing in disguise as they have well over a week to prepare for the game against Sunderland on April 12th.
