Tottenham Hotspur have been urged by journalist Pete O'Rourke to make a 'really exciting' manager appointment by moving for Brighton & Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi.
The Lowdown: Conte to leave?
In the wake of Antonio Conte's explosive rant after the 3-3 draw against Southampton on Saturday, journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke has claimed the manager's position is 'completely untenable', however he still remains in the dugout, at least for the time being.
Alasdair Gold has now reported that the Italian has spoken to the board about his outburst, clarifying that his comments were solely aimed at the players, rather than the board, perhaps in an attempt to save his job.
Regardless, the comments will not have been taken lightly by the Tottenham hierarchy, and the club continue to be linked with potential replacements for the summer.
The Latest: O'Rourke hails De Zerbi
In an interview with GiveMeSport, O'Rourke suggested that De Zerbi should be targeted by Spurs in the summer, after his fantastic start to life in the Premier League as Brighton manager.
The journalist said: “I think it'd be a really exciting appointment if De Zerbi was to go to Spurs.
"Obviously the job he’s done at Brighton has been really impressive. You've seen it go on another level since Graham Potter. Brighton are now among the top sides in the Premier League and his style of football means he wants to play attacking football, with real slick passing and scoring goals as well.
"So I think that would fit the Tottenham style, which obviously a lot of Spurs fans have not been happy with under Antonio Conte.”
The Verdict: Get it done?
In light of Conte's recent outburst, the Tottenham board may choose to accelerate their hunt for a new manager, and the 43-year-old could be a very shrewd appointment, given his success so far.
The 43-year-old is one game away from leading Brighton to Wembley in the FA Cup, having masterminded a fantastic 2-1 victory against defending champions Liverpool, while his side are also in contention to qualify for Europe.
The Seagulls are currently seventh in the table, seven points behind Spurs, who occupy fourth place, with a total of three games in hand, so a remarkable end to the season is well and truly on the cards.
De Zerbi is likely to be a man in demand this summer if Brighton have a strong end to the season, but Spurs could be an attractive proposition for him, so long as they are able to secure Champions League football.