Tottenham should replace De Zerbi with Pep clone Arne Slot
Tottenham should replace De Zerbi with Pep clone Arne Slot, the club’s hierarchy understand that the results‑driven business cannot tolerate a sluggish start. After a summer outlay exceeding £300 million, the north London side have collected just two points from a possible fifteen, with their first league goals arriving in a 3‑2 loss to Aston Villa.
De Zerbi's troubled start
Roberto De Zerbi, 47, entered pre‑season with ten new Premier League‑experienced signings and a full schedule to integrate them. Yet the team’s performances have mirrored the previous two campaigns, delivering poor results despite the influx of talent. Their opening two league goals only materialised in the narrow defeat to Aston Villa. The lack of early points has left the club languishing near the bottom of the table.
Spurs face United after break
Tottenham’s next challenge arrives at Old Trafford against Manchester United following the extended international break. United manager Michael Carrick also feels pressure after securing only two wins from seven matches, a dip from his interim success last season. Spurs will need to reverse their fortunes quickly to avoid further criticism.
Arne Slot's Premier League pedigree
Arne Slot, the Dutch manager who guided Liverpool to a third‑place finish in Jurgen Klopp’s final season, then delivered a title‑winning campaign by ten points. The 2025‑26 season was less spectacular, hampered by the tragic death of Diogo Jota, yet the title triumph remains a testament to his ability. Slot’s reputation for nurturing talent and implementing an attacking philosophy aligns with the style Tottenham aspire to.
Slot was interviewed for the Spurs vacancy in 2023 after Antonio Conte’s departure. He later explained in his biography that family considerations accounted for 99 percent of his decision not to move, saying, “I told my kids it would be great to visit me in London during the school holidays, though my daughter might want to go do things with her friends.”
The Dutchman indicated he would have loved the Tottenham role, noting that moving directly from Feyenoord to the north London club would have been a dream. With his previous openness, a renewed offer could entice him, although Tottenham’s current downward trajectory might deter him. Should the club decide to act, they have a range of experienced managers available on the market.
James Beavis' media career
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff shows James Beavis as a Senior Editor at GIVEMESPORT, boasting more than ten years in online football media. He earned a Sports Journalism degree from Southampton Solent University in 2012. His role involves overseeing content strategy and coordinating with freelance contributors across the football landscape.
James joined Football FanCast in 2016 after a three‑year stint at Shoot Magazine, rising from freelance writer to editor before moving to GMS in 2020. He has cultivated strong working relationships with top‑tier journalists such as Fabrizio Romano, Dharmesh Sheth and Ben Jacobs, regularly chatting with them as part of an exclusives initiative. Give the reader insight into his professional network. These connections have yielded exclusive stories that boost GIVEMESPORT’s readership.