Fabio Paratici has recommended Roberto De Zerbi to Tottenham Hotspur as a potential Ange Postecoglou replacement, talkSPORT understands.
Former Brighton boss De Zerbi, now at Marseille in Ligue 1, is believed to be open to a return to the Premier League.
As reported last week, ex-Spurs managing director Paratici has held talks over returning to the club after serving his FIFA ban.
The Italian stood down in April 2023 and was handed a worldwide ban after being found guilty of financial malpractice at Juventus.
Paratici now appears to have suggested his compatriot De Zerbi’s name for the Spurs hotseat should Postecoglou leave.
De Zerbi joined Brighton from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2022 and was the successor to Graham Potter, who moved to Chelsea.
The 45-year-old guided the Seagulls to European qualification for the first time in the club’s history at the end of his first season.
Brighton reached the last-16 of the Europa League, but were knocked out by Roma.
De Zerbi spent a second season at the club, however it was announced ahead of the final day that he would leave.
He then moved to France last summer by joining Marseille, who are second in Ligue 1 behind champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Manchester United were also linked with De Zerbi, who reportedly showed his Marseille players his offer from the Old Trafford side.
The Italian could be set to return to the Premier League after just one year away should Spurs make a managerial change.
talkSPORT reported in March that the north London side have a list of potential replacements if they part ways with Postecoglou.
Sources claim that Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola would be Spurs chairman Daniel Levy’s top target.
Marco Silva and Thomas Frank of Fulham and Brentford respectively are other targets for Spurs.
However, both have hefty release clauses in their current contracts.
Postecoglou has endured a difficult second season at Spurs as they sit 16th in the Premier League with only 11 wins.
However, they could be set to reach the Europa League final, with the second leg against Bodo/Glimt live on talkSPORT 2.
