His initial brief is clear and simple: keep Spurs in the Premier League.
Arguably, nothing else matters. Not which players he picks, what formation he favours or the standard of the performances. Seven games left in the season, 21 points to play for.
Only results matter until end of season
The style of football that he has become synonymous with can even take a back seat for now because there's little point in going gung-ho if the outcome is that the Lilywhites still fail to secure three points.
Given how low confidence is amongst a squad that still hasn't won a Premier League game in 2026, it's a huge ask for the 46-year-old Italian.
The game against his former club, Brighton, will take on extra significance, too, given that it will be De Zerbi's first at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium; however, there's the small matter of playing away at Sunderland to negotiate before then.
After Brighton come fixtures against Wolves, Aston Villa, Leeds, Chelsea and Everton, and Spurs fans will be hoping they can celebrate their safety for another season long before a ball has been kicked against the Toffees.
Locatelli targeted
De Zerbi himself appears to already be planning for the long term, given the strong rumours already linking him with 28-year-old Juventus and Italy midfielder Manuel Locatelli.
Italian media understand that before De Zerbi put pen to paper on a five-year deal with the North London club, he identified certain transfer targets, one of whom is Locatelli, out of contract with the Bianconeri in 2028.
So far in 2025/26, the midfielder has started in 35 out of 37 games and has played a cumulative 2,930 minutes, which is the fifth most in the Juve squad.
Incredible all-round game
Although his 88.9% pass accuracy is marginally worse than that of some other players, he has made the most total passes (2,628) and completed the most (2,323). Moreover, his total of 1,046 forward passes is at least 250 more than anyone else has managed this season.
In terms of one-on-one duels, only Kenan Yildiz's total of 387 is better than Locatelli's 318, and whilst the latter's 60.4% success rate in this regard is lower than Joao Mario's 63.8% and Daniele Rugani's 63.6%, Joao Mario has only been involved in 47 duels and Rugani in 22, so there's really no comparison.
174 ball recoveries are only topped by Michele di Gregorio's 178, Pierre Kalulu's 179 and Lloyd Kelly's 183.
With such a high level to Locatelli's all-around game, it's blindingly obvious why De Zerbi wants to acquire that sort of character for his Tottenham side.
How does Locatelli compare to Barella and Modric?
But how does he compare to other quality midfielders in Serie A, such as Internazionale's Nicolo Barella or AC Milan's Luka Modric, for example?
Like Locatelli, his international teammate has been readily available this season, starting in 32 of his 36 games to date in all competitions, playing a cumulative 2,684 minutes, the fourth highest of all Inter players.
1,805 total passes is the third most in the squad (and noticeably less than Locatelli's output), and his 85.5% completion stat, whilst not the best, is still more than acceptable.
Barella's 273 duels with a 51.3% success rate isn't quite up to Locatelli's standard either, though none of Inter's outfield players can match his 174 ball recoveries - the same amount as his countryman.
Despite Modric's advancing years - he'll be 41 in September - he has involved himself in the fourth highest amount of one-on-ones (175) in the Milan squad. His 54.9% success is better than Barella's, though not as high as Locatelli's, as might be expected. 173 ball recoveries are just one less than the pair themselves have managed, however.
In a sign of the Croat's longevity, only goalkeeper Mike Maignan can match his 30 games played, though the custodian has started in all 30, and Modric in 28, level with Alexis Saelemaekers as the outfield players with the most starts.
It won't come as any surprise either that Modric's 1,957 passes are the most in the Milan squad, and are almost 500 more than the player in second place for this metric, Strahinja Pavlovic (1,476).
With 1,778 completed, the Croat's sensational 90.8% completion stat deserves kudos and praise. Only Koni De Winter (91.6%) and Ardon Jashari (93.2%) have a better rate, but both have made significantly fewer total passes.
Can Tottenham afford him?
Locatelli arguably still comes out on top when being compared to two of Serie A's supreme talents, though the one possible stumbling block that could remain for De Zerbi is whether the Tottenham board are willing to back his judgment with cold, hard cash.
Great players don't come cheap, and Ange Postecoglou was just one voice to recently suggest that the club have never been in the market for the world's top footballers for that reason.
The question is whether the powers that be at the club can really afford to dilly-dally again if the Italian saves them from the abyss?
