(Credit: Manh Tung - Breaking Media Ltd)

Ciaran Morrison

Wed 1 April 2026 11:00, UK Updated Wed 1 April 2026 11:24, UK

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Roberto De Zerbi has been handed everything he asked for in negotiations over his contract to become Tottenham Hotspur’s new manager.

That is the view of former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who called De Zerbi’s contract at Spurs “astonishing.”

The 46-year-old has signed a five-year deal, with no relegation release clause inserted if the north London club do suffer relegation to the Championship.

De Zerbi was Spurs’ number one target for the job, though there were doubts over whether he would take the position in such cirumstances.

Spurs sacked Igor Tudor with the club just a point above the Premier League relegation zone, meaning De Zerbi is left with seven matches to preserve the club’s top flight status.

Tottenham have ‘rolled over’ in Roberto De Zerbi negotiations

Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – states that De Zerbi will not have the time this season to implement his playing style at Spurs.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks that Spurs “lost control” when hiring De Zerbi.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I did say that De Zerbi, if he’s not going to come now, then why would you really want him? It seems like Spurs have rolled over and given him everything he wants. It’s a five-year contract, which I find to be astonishing.

“With De Zerbi, it’s interesting. When I look back at his Brighton tenure, and I went through this in a bit of detail, certainly the first few weeks and even the first couple of months he was there, there was a pretty tough period to adapt to what he’s looking for in his style. And he hasn’t got that this time.

“We all know there are only a few games left, and they’ve got to get stuck in straight away. So there isn’t time to adapt to a new manager’s style. He’s a bit of a fiery character and there was acrimony in the way he left Brighton.

“If he can get the players working hard, then he can be the guy. I just worry if he’s going to try and impose a style. He’s got to get hands on, do whatever he can in the next few games and then focus on the off-season about trying to introduce a style if he can do, and then he’ll be in a very strong position to leverage the Spurs owners into giving him assistance.

“It’s a strange one, but it just seems that the owners on the board and Vinai Venkatesham have lost control in terms of the decision. It seems like De Zerbi is dictating to them what the terms are rather than them making an offer to him.

“I’m sure there isn’t a big queue right now who are waiting to try and handle Spurs’ issues. But look, it’s a difficult one. It’s another great part of the soap opera football. But De Zerbi, the jury’s out very much on this one.”

Expert predicts bleak start to De Zerbi reign

De Zerbi’s first game in charge of Spurs will be away at Sunderland, with the club not in FA Cup quarter-final action.

Wyness has previously told Football Insider that he believes Spurs will not win at Sunderland, and their season could come down to the final day against Everton.

Belief is in short supply amongst the fanbase, and De Zerbi needs to end Spurs’ 13-game winless run in the Premier League quickly, especially as West Ham’s next game is against bottom club Wolves.

A reunion with former club Brighton will then await De Zerbi in his first home match in charge, with Spurs having only picked up 10 points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium all season.