Tottenham Hotspur can stun Premier League rivals Manchester United and get one over on them by winning the race to hire Roberto De Zerbi, after holding talks over hiring the Italian.
Both clubs have interim managers in place until the end of the season, although they have had differing fortunes with Spurs in a much worse position than United heading into the final nine matches of the 2025-26 campaign.
Tottenham have lost all three matches of Igor Tudor’s caretaker reign and lie just one point above the Premier League relegation zone, with Championship football next term a real possibility after the north Londoners have gone 11 games without a win.
Meanwhile, United are flying high in third with Carrick winning six of his eight top-flight fixtures at the helm, although he tasted defeat for the first time against 10-man Newcastle United at St James’ Park last week.
Tottenham Hold Talks Over De Zerbi Appointment
The Telegraph reported last week that Tottenham have held talks over appointing De Zerbi as their next permanent manager.
GIVEMESPORT sources had revealed last month that the Italian was willing to travel to London to hold face-to-face talks with Spurs over the job to see if the project would work for him now, having turned down the role previously.
Of course, Tottenham being in the Premier League and Tottenham being in the Championship are two totally different propositions, so Spurs making an attractive pitch would surely depend on preserving their top-flight status.
De Zerbi, described as ‘one of the best managers in the world’ by Arne Slot and ‘world-class’ by Adam Lallana, is open to making a return to the Premier League having left his job at Marseille earlier this year, after his success at Brighton and Hove Albion in England previously.
Spurs Could Stun Man United With De Zerbi Hire
While an appointment is most likely at the end of the season, Tottenham could be forced to make a permanent hire earlier than that if Tudor’s poor form continues.
It remains to be seen whether De Zerbi will be willing to arrive in the next weeks and try and keep Spurs in the Premier League, but if not, it is something that will be more likely if and when they guarantee their spot in the top flight for 2026-27.
Nevertheless, Tottenham know they will be getting a replacement for Tudor in the summer, but Carrick’s success as a caretaker means there is more uncertainty over the permanent position at Old Trafford.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is said to want to appoint United’s next boss before the World Cup kicks off on June 11, which would rule out the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Carlo Ancelotti and Mauricio Pochettino, who will all be managing at the tournament.
According to GMS sources, De Zerbi is one of United’s preferred external managerial candidates, alongside Nagelsmann and Roberto Martinez, with the Spaniard another manager set to appear at the World Cup.
If Carrick continues with the same results he’s had so far and secures Champions League qualification, it could be difficult to look beyond him, but Spurs may have the chance to act quicker and more decisively in the coming months for a manager they should be able to land earlier than another candidate in Pochettino.
Tottenham have been handed a major blow in their efforts to sign Marcus Rashford this summer, according to the i Paper, as the Manchester United ace is not currently open to join the club.
It comes as Spurs have been linked with the winger as a potential option to improve the forward ranks, as talks continue over the signing of some key players up front.
There is also interest in Cody Gakpo, who offers slightly more experience. Then there’s Rashford, who is available on the market, but he has seemingly made his mind up over a deal in North London.
It’s stated that the 28-year-old doesn’t want to join another Premier League club, despite his previous success in the division, as he looks for an exit outside of England.
It follows on from Rashford’s successful loan spell at Barcelona, which saw him become a useful squad option for the club, where he could enjoy his football once again.
However, the Blaugrana opted against a permanent deal to sign the Man United star, who had a permanent clause in his loan move, with a move for Anthony Gordon going through instead.
Barcelona are claimed to be open to another loan move for Rashford, though the Red Devils prefer an exit in the region of £40 million, which could drop to £25 million in the coming weeks.
It means Tottenham will miss out on a move, unless the player’s stance changes in the near future. That said, it will save the club on wages.
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Rashford Wage Boost
Nathan Ray Seebeck via Reuters
Tottenham’s move for Rashford would’ve been expensive in the long-term, not due to the transfer fee, but due to the likely wages the club would have to take on.
It’s a monumental amount that would smash through the current wage structure for the Lilywhites, as they look to invest even more in the market.
However, with Rashford seemingly turning down the possibility of moving to Tottenham and other Premier League clubs, that may save the club a huge amount that can be invested elsewhere in the squad.
Cody Gakpo’s girlfriend, Noa van der Bij, has posted an emotional statement to confirm that their son has passed away during pregnancy.
The Liverpool star and his partner announced in May that they were expecting another boy. They already have one son, Samuel, who was born in 2024.
Gakpo is currently representing the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup, while Van der Bij is in the United States of America to support him from the stands. The latter took to Instagram to share the news that their baby, who they named Elijah Raphael Gakpo, had passed.
Cody Gakpo and Noa van der Bij Lose Son
Jay Biggerstaff (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
Van der Bij posted to her Instagram story on Saturday afternoon, saying: “With broken hearts, we share the devastating news that our baby boy passed away during pregnancy. Thank you for your love and support. Elijah Raphael Gakpo Forever loved. Forever our son.”
She then shared a heartbreaking story of how the couple and their son, Samuel, went to light a candle at church and came across another little boy called Elijah. Her next post stated:
“We went to church to light a candle. Afterwards, we walked to the church playground with our son Samuel. There was only one other child there. His name was Elijah.
“There could not have been a more beautiful sign from God He reminded us that our little boy is never far away.”
A billionaire tennis player has chosen not to share a hotel with her Wimbledon competitors, previously claiming that she needs better facilities to help her recover efficiently and effectively.
Staying at the official Wimbledon hotel is the default expected choice for many of the tournament participants. It serves as a financial necessity for many lower-ranked players, juniors, and doubles specialists who rely on the tournament’s organisers to cover the expensive costs of hotels during their time competing.
This does rule out those that can afford to prepare for the tournament while prioritising comfort over free accommodation.
World’s Richest Tennis Player Chooses Her Own Hotels
Andrew Couldridge via Reuters
From Monday, as the tournament gets underway, the widely considered world’s richest tennis star will be staying in a premium, independent hotel of her own choosing, and will be looking to improve on her best-ever run to the quarter-finals in 2023.
She will enter the prestigious tournament as fourth seed, but has still yet to reach a major championship, with her run to the US Open final in 2024 being the closest she has ever come.
She believes that choosing her own hotel room, away from the other players, could lead to success, explaining that as she has become older, the small details matter, like having a better pillow and a quiet space to relax, with both being vital for recovery.
Why She Chooses Her Own Hotels
“We’re either on the court or we’re in the hotel room,” she said. “It’s such a big part of our lives, and as I’ve gotten older, a good hotel has become more of a priority.
“When you’re 20, and you’re just starting to travel, you’re not complaining that much: you’re more out there grinding and embracing life on tour. Once you hit 30 and kind of need a better pillow, that stuff honestly becomes really important.”
During last year’s French Open, Jessica Pegula, the daughter of the NFL Buffalo Bills owner, Terry Pegula, first decided to take this approach before realising how mentally draining it had become to share her space with her direct rivals.
“Oh my gosh, being away from everyone else is a massive thing for me,” Pegula admitted. “I think that’s what maybe sparked this, as well. I just felt like, ‘I can’t do [player hotels] anymore.’
Szymon Gorski via Reuters
“When you’re staying at a tournament hotel, I feel like it’s so mentally draining. It’s not like anyone is a problem.”
The American star is scheduled to come up against unseeded Czech Darja Vidmanova at 11am on Monday.
The 32-year-old has amassed over $2 million worth of prize money so far in her career and has really highlighted the importance of her recent decision.
“If you were going to work with someone, you would necessarily want to eat breakfast with them, practice with them, have lunch, go to the locker room, and the physio room with them, and see them in the elevators and the hallways.
“I don’t think people realise that shouldn’t happen, not with the people you’re working and competing with every single week. We play pretty much every week together, and so, all of that together, you’re ready to lose it.”
