An increasingly desperate Tottenham board may soon be willing to admit their mistake in appointing Igor Tudor, with Roberto De Zerbi reportedly lined up as the Croatian's replacement to stave off the threat of relegation.
Spurs turned to master Serie A firefighter Tudor after eight months of Thomas Frank-led purgatory was brought to an end following a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United last month.
There was hope that Tudor, given his track record of immediately improving fortunes, would help open up a comfortable enough buffer on the drop zone, but Spurs have instead sunk further into the mire since the 47-year-old took charge. Three straight defeats have offered little encouragement, with the latest, to Crystal Palace on Thursday night, among the bleakest in recent memory.
As it stands, Spurs aren't planning another switch in the dugout, with Tudor expected to take charge of the first leg of our Champions League round of 16 tie against Atlético Madrid on Tuesday night. However, it's looking increasingly unlikely that the ex-Juventus boss will last the entirety of his short-term contract.
Tottenham lining up De Zerbi as Tudor replacement
Many are calling for the club to turn to a familiar face to help us escape the mire, with the return of someone associated with the Lilywhites potentially helping restore a connection between supporters and players that's dissipated rapidly since Bilbao.
However, who that might be is unclear. There are no obvious candidates unless Ryan Mason is turned to for a third time.
Thus, reports are emerging of a potential move for De Zerbi, who was expected to be among the candidates to replace Thomas Frank long-term at the end of the season. The Telegraph suggests that Tudor is on the brink, with next week's results in Madrid and Liverpool likely to decide the path this inept board takes.
They write that talks have already been held with De Zerbi, and the club will surely consider bringing his appointment forward if they decide to sack Tudor.
The Italian is a combustible coach who'd no doubt last no more than two seasons, but the time he spends in north London could undoubtedly help reinvigorate a club on its knees. I don't think appointing him to keep us up is wise, given his complex tactical instructions, but De Zerbi, for the summer, is undoubtedly an intriguing option, even if so many are keen for Mauricio Pochettino to return.
De Zerbi is on the market after leaving Marseille in February following a tumultuous 18 months that brought plenty of excitement and a healthy dose of toxicity. He's a boom or bust type of manager; a risk Tottenham may have to take in order to reignite.