Sources: Tottenham 'hugely impressed' by Roberto De Zerbi as manager search takes twist
Tottenham are monitoring Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi as they assess potential replacements for Antonio Conte, sources have told Football Insider.
The future of the Spurs boss is up in the air with his contract expiring in the summer and no agreement yet on an extension.
One manager who is firmly on Tottenham's radar is De Zerbi, 43, on the back of the excellent impression he has made since replacing Graham Potter at Brighton in mid-September.
The Italian has not only maintained Brighton's upward mobility but also taken them to a new level in terms of an attacking force.
Brighton's goal output has rocketed under De Zerbi and their haul of 39 Premier League goals this season is beaten only by Man City, Arsenal and Tottenham.
They are also sixth in the top flight, one place and four points behind Spurs, and on course for what would be their highest-ever Premier League finish.
Brighton's transformation in such a short space of time has caught the eye of immensely impressed Spurs chiefs, who have had to get used to their own manager's more cautious, counterattacking style.
The club are now more likely than not to find themselves in the position of hunting for their fifth manager in three-and-a-half years.
Tottenham and Conte held preliminary talks over a new deal at the end of last year but they have gone no further than that.
Whispers are now growing that the Italian will leave the London giants at the end of the season with neither party especially enthusiastic about committing to a huge-money extension.