By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

25th Mar, 2023 | 5:00pm

Sources: De Zerbi now out of the running to be next Tottenham manager

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi is out of the running to become the next Tottenham manager, sources have told Football Insider.

Tottenham are expected to sack Antonio Conte following his press conference rant after the club’s 3-3 draw to Southampton last week.

Spurs have been ‘hugely impressed’ by De Zerbi’s impact at Brighton and monitored him during their managerial search, but have ruled him out as a potential candidate.

Instead, Football Insider sources understand that Tottenham have made recently-sacked Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann their first-choice replacement.

Nagelsmann is set to be replaced by Thomas Tuchel in Munich, despite having lost only three games all season with the Bundesliga giants.

The North London club views Nagelsmann as a more elite manager and understands he would be a cheaper appointment than De Zerbi, who would require a compensation payout to Brighton.

De Zerbi is happy at the Amex Stadium and is willing to commit to a long-term project with the club after replacing Graham Potter in September.

The Italian previously worked for Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk but left following the Russian invasion.

He has built up a 52 per cent win rate at Brighton, winning 13 of his 25 matches in charge of the club.

The Seagulls have climbed to seventh in the league and are just seven points behind Tottenham in fourth position.

Brighton are confident that they can tempt De Zerbi to stay on at the club and have promised him financial backing in the summer transfer window.

In other news, ‘Devastating’ new Antonio Conte claim at Tottenham – ‘he wants to be sacked’, says pundit