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Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Sun 29 March 2026 11:47, UK

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Roberto De Zerbi is planning to return to the Premier League amid interest from both Tottenham Hotspur and Man United, sources have told Football Insider.

The former Brighton boss is eyeing a return to English football at the end of the season after his dismissal from Marseille earlier this year.

This comes despite Tottenham’s plan to appoint him as an immediate replacement for Igor Tudor, who is widely expected to depart during the international break.

As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, De Zerbi is keen to bide his time before committing himself to a new role.

Both Man United and Tottenham will be looking for a new manager in the summer, and Spurs view De Zerbi as a top target, but there is uncertainty about his perspective.

Roberto De Zerbi has doubts about Tottenham role

Football Insider revealed on 27 March that De Zerbi has doubts about the Tottenham job given their precarious position at the bottom of the Premier League table.

Sources say the boss is reluctant to take over in the middle of a relegation battle, with Spurs currently just one point above West Ham in the bottom three.

The former Brighton boss remains the leading candidate to replace Tudor, but will take some convincing if he is to take up the offer mid-season.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “De Zerbi is somebody that obviously Spurs are very much interested in, whether it’s now or at end of the season.

“Returning to the Premier League is something that would be interested in and it all depends on the right project and the right time.

“He has been linked with the Man United job as well as the Tottenham job, so there are going to be opportunities for him to return to management.

“It does seem Spurs are interested in him, but it’s trying to convince him to come in so late on in the season.

“The manager would prefer to come in at the start of the season, start of the summer and have a full pre-season with any potential new club.”

Could De Zerbi take on the Man United job?

Tottenham are not the only club who will be looking for a new manager this summer, with the market about to explode, as Man United are also assessing their options.

Football Insider revealed in January that Man United are admirers of De Zerbi and had previously spoken to him about the role before Ruben Amorim’s arrival.

He remains highly regarded at Old Trafford and is among the contenders for the position which is current occupied by interim boss Michael Carrick.

Carrick has enjoyed a brilliant start to life as Man United manager and has guided them up to third place in the Premier League table with a strong run of form.

That has placed him in the driving seat to land the permanent role, although a decision has yet to be made, with De Zerbi still among those being considered.