Roberto De Zerbi was the main reason why Tottenham Hotspur failed to reach an agreement with Sebastian Kehl to be their next sporting director.
Over the last few weeks, Sebastien Kehl had emerged as the favourite for the Spurs sporting director role after parting ways with Borussia Dortmund.
However, it emerged on Thursday that talks between the German director and Tottenham had collapsed after concrete discussions were held between the parties.
Many Spurs fans are not too disappointed that the talks with Kehl fell through, as they are not convinced the 46-year-old is the man the club needs at the helm.
Roberto De Zerbi is the main reason Sebastian Kehl is not joining Tottenham
The Telegraph have now revealed that sources on both sides point to De Zerbi’s influence as the main reason the deal fell through.
Sources close to the Tottenham Hotspur boss have claimed that he had doubts over Kehl and his fit for the role as Spurs embark on a new era.
Meanwhile, sources on Kehl’s side suggest that the German was put off by the level of influence and control that De Zerbi has been given at the North London club.
The 46-year-old is now hugely influential at the North London club, and the club would thus need to appoint a sporting director, who the former Brighton boss is confident he could work with.
Is Johan Lange set to stay at Spurs?
Over the last couple of months, it had been widely reported that Johan Lange’s position at Tottenham is under threat this summer after the club’s back-to-back 17th-placed finishes in the Premier League.
However, amid Spurs’ inability to find the right candidate so far, the Dane has managed to stay in the job, and there is no sign that he is on his way out.
In fact, Matt Law indicated earlier this week that Lange may stay at Tottenham beyond this summer but left the door open for the possibility of the 46-year-old’s title and responsibilities being changed.
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