Tottenham still face one major hurdle in bid to appoint leading Igor Tudor replacement candidate

Tottenham are still said to be facing a big obstacle in their reported bid to hire their preferred new manager. Spurs decided to sack Igor Tudor after the interim boss failed to make any sort of impact at the club in the wake of Thomas Frank’s sacking.

Spurs are now one point above the relegation zone, in a worse position than when Frank left the club, and it has quickly become a desperate situation, with Champions League football also now out of the equation.

With just seven games remaining, it’s going to be hard for Tottenham to find a new manager, especially given the certainty of back-to-back bottom half finishes, which says a lot about the club and where it is currently.

And any manager that arrives now, knows he is at risk of becoming an instant villain if he cannot save this team from relegation. According to various reports, former Brighton and Marseille boss Robert De Zerbi is the preferred option, and it has been reported that talks are progressing nicely.

According to The Athletic, though, while Tottenham are willing to offer big money to get the deal done, along with a five-year contract offer, it’s claimed De Zerbi still has reservations.

De Zerbi already turned his nose up at the job when Tudor took over, feeling as though it would be difficult to implement his style of play during a relegation battle, and that feeling is said to remain. That, according to the report, is the main obstacle to Spurs appointing De Zerbi, with the club needing convince the former Seagulls boss that it is worth entering a relegation battle because of the opportunity he will have going forward.

Talks are likely to continue, and some important promises around spending are likely required to seal the deal. Tottenham are next in action on April 12 when they face Sunderland.