Robert De Zerbi could stir things up massively at Tottenham and make Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the star of his new-look team next season.
That is the bold view of European football expert Andy Brassell, who has tipped the Italian to go in all guns blazing in north London.
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De Zerbi has been confirmed as Igor Tudor’s successor on a five-year deal with the immediate goal to stop Spurs from suffering a first relegation in 49 years.
It barely feels like five minutes since fans were speculating on how Thomas Frank would set up his team, as an exciting new era appeared to dawn at the start of the season.
However, a shocking turn of events now sees Spurs two managers further down the line, and in need of an instant fix from De Zerbi.
While his first job is to get the best out of his current set of players to avoid the drop, he will no doubt have huge plans to make his mark in north London next season.
And European football expert Brassell has tipped De Zerbi to do this in spectacular fashion, by suggesting a bold, new-look starting XI.
Goalkeeper and defence
Starting in goal, Brassell went for an immediate change, as he called on De Zerbi to swap Guglielmo Vicario for Marseille’s Geronimo Rulli.
The Argentine goalkeeper joined the Ligue 1 side alongside De Zerbi in 2024, and has been a mainstay between the sticks.
Stating his case, Brassell said: “Geronimo Rulli in goal. He’s a terrific goalkeeper. He’s brilliant with his feet as well, so he’s the best of both worlds.
“Okay, he’s experienced – he’s 33 years old now, but he’s got plenty in the tank.”
With Vicario facing criticism for his ball-playing abilities, and shakiness at times defending his six-yard area, Brassell insisted Rulli would be an all-round upgrade on the Italian.
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He added: “I think he’ll command his box better and he’s way better with his feet, as well as in my view being a better shot stopper than Vicario.”
Moving into defence, Brassell tipped De Zerbi stick to his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, and to keep their of Tottenham’s regular starters in their backline.
Full-backs Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro were both named in the potential back four, as well as star centre-back Micky van de Ven.
But one man not keeping his shirt was captain Cristian Romero, who has appeared unhappy with the club this term, with Brassell insisting youngster Luka Vuskovic could step in to take his place under De Zerbi.
Currently on loan at Hamburg, 19-year-old has impressed with his defensive displays in the Bundesliga, also scoring five goals.
Midfield: Rabiot raid?
As for De Zerbi’s midfield, Brassell once again called on the Italian to introduce a familiar face from his time at Marseille.
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Opting for two holding midfielders, the former Brighton boss was told to name 20-year-old Lucas Bergvall, who Brassell labelled a ‘future captain’.
And to get the best out of the promising young Swede, the European football specialist believes De Zerbi should bring in 2018 World Cup winner Adrien Rabiot.
Having starred for Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus before joining De Zerbi in Marseille, Rabiot is now enjoying a fine season at AC Milan, who he joined last summer.
Tipping him to adapt to the Premier League, Brassell said: “I go for Adrien Rabiot because I think there is someone who I think should have played in the Premier League by now anyway.
He added: “You look at the size of him, the physicality of him. He’s developed into such a brilliant player over the last three or four years.
“He always had the talent, but now I think he knows who and what he is, and despite various little ups and downs, he’s been great for Milan this season.”
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Ahead of Bergvall and Rabiot, Brassell backed De Zerbi to make £51.8million summer arrival Xavi Simons the key man in a No.10 role, with a fit-again Dejan Kulusevski to his right.
A familiar foe?
Then came Brassell’s most controversial call, as he claimed De Zerbi should turn to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the left wing.
This would certainly ruffle a few feathers at Spurs, with Aubameyang starring for bitter rivals Arsenal for four years and captaining them to FA Cup glory and scoring twice as Chelsea were beaten in 2020.
He may have left under a cloud, but the Gabon international still fired in 92 goals for the Gunners between 2018 and 2022, before spending time under De Zerbi after joining Marseille for a second time last summer.
Now 37, Aubameyang has proven he still has a knack for goals, with eight Ligue 1 strikes this term, and Brassell insisted he could be a real asset to Spurs, albeit controversial.
Making his bold claim, he said: “Perhaps a little bit out there for some people, I’d go for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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“He’s going to turn 37 in the summer, so it’s a short-term signing. It would be for a good time rather than a long time.
“He has been so good since he’s left the Premier League.”
Brassell claimed Aubameyang’s all-round game is better now than in his Arsenal heyday, and tipped him to star on the left for Spurs, with Richarlison continuing to lead the line.
He continued: “He was a player who would touch the ball like 10-15 times a game and just really defined himself by his pace and his goals.
“Now he’s still got really good pace actually, not quite what it was when he was 29 obviously, but he’s still quick enough.
“He’s so unbelievably intelligent, he stretches the game by taking the ball down the flanks, he defends really tigerishly. He keeps himself incredibly fit. He scores and creates.
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“You look at his assist numbers over the last couple of seasons and they’re absolutely brilliant. For me, he would be a better version of what Randal Kolo Muani should have been for Tottenham.”
Admitting this may well be the move that neither party want, Brassell still insisted Aubameyang would be a real coup.
He rounded off: “Even though there’s the Arsenal connection and maybe for that reason Aubameyang wouldn’t be open to it.
“But if we’re talking money and affiliation no object I think he’d be a really terrific signing for them.”
Fan verdict: De Zerbi to ruffle some feathers
Tottenham broadcaster Ricky Sacks told our Inside Spurs show that the players can expect some tough love from De Zerbi.
“We are not getting a quiet character,” he said.
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“We are not getting someone who is going to go in there and put arms around players and be lovey and dovey.
“He is going to ruffle a few feathers and my only concern is, what the team needs now, do they need a bit more TLC and more confidence, can De Zerbi apply that?
“These are all the questions we are not going to know until we see the first few games commence.
“But he is a highly sought-after manager, I think he was on Man United’s radar as well so we have to bare in mind that Tottenham are getting someone of quite a significantly high level.
“Based on who we have been linked with beforehand, it does seem like he’s a lot more suitable candidate despite the baggage that comes with him.”
