Huge number puts Tottenham in a dilemma over De Zerbi

Tottenham are going through a tough phase under Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi, as the team continues to struggle in the Premier League, with their latest setback being a 3-2 loss to Aston Villa, which sees them drop into the relegation zone with only two points from five matches.

The latest defeat comes at a time when pressure is mounting around De Zerbi's future, who took charge of the team last March on a long-term contract, after Tottenham officially announced his appointment with the aim of building a new project for the club.

According to British media reports, the sacking of the Italian manager could be extremely expensive for Tottenham, given the value of his five-year contract. Previous reports have indicated that the cost of terminating the contractual relationship could reach around £60 million, while other estimates have pointed to different figures depending on the details and clauses of the contract.

Reports suggest that a former source at the club believes there is a clause that could allow Tottenham to avoid paying the full value of the remaining years.

Previous reports linked De Zerbi's contract value to around €10 million annually, but other sources indicated higher estimates for his annual salary, leaving the final figure for any potential settlement uncertain at this time.

De Zerbi's position becomes increasingly sensitive after Tottenham's significant investments during the summer transfer window, as the club spent over £300 million to strengthen the squad in an attempt to avoid repeating last season's struggles. However, the team has not achieved a victory in the first five rounds of the Premier League, and their first goal in the competition this season came during the loss against Aston Villa.