Roberto De Zerbi instantly decides on first Spurs signing who's never played in England before

Roberto De Zerbi may have already identified the first player he wants to sign after replacing Igor Tudor as Tottenham Hotspur manager.

After just seven games in charge, Igor Tudor left his role as Tottenham Hotspur interim head coach last week, with the Croat unable to win any of his five Premier League games in charge, with his only point coming in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

Shortly after his dismissal, several names were linked with the Spurs job, with Harry Redknapp, Tim Sherwood, Chris Hughton and Glenn Hoddle and even current player Ben Davies all reportedly considered.

However, on Tuesday the club announced that they had appointed former Brighton boss De Zerbi, with the Italian signing a five-year contract, with a reported annual salary of £12million to 15million, which will make him the third-highest paid Premier League manager.

With Spurs in a desperate fight for survival in the Premier League, De Zerbi's appointment needs to go well, and it appears he's already identified the one player he wants to bring in to help guide the London club to better days.

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato IT, De Zerbi has identified Manuel Locatelli as the one player who could help transform Spurs, having worked with the midfielder during his spell at Sassuolo between 2019 and 2021.

The Italian has impressed for Juventus this season, leading the side as captain, playing 39 times in all competitions and contributing to five goals while controlling the match from midfield.

It is reported that before signing as the new Spurs' boss, De Zerbi discussed potential transfer targets during a major meeting with the club's ownership outlining his vision for the future.

During this meeting, he is believed to have named Locatelli as his top target for the summer, but only if they are able to survive relegation.

Manuel Locatelli is a key player for Juventus. (Image: Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)

As it stands, Locatelli’s current contract at Juventus runs until the summer of 2028 and it is currently unclear if the club plans to extend his contract further.

Should they decide to part ways with the 28-year-old, it could provide an opportunity for several clubs, with Spurs believed to be only one of several Premier League sides interested in the Italian.

The report adds that, should Locatelli be available, Manchester United will rival Spurs for his signature this summer.