Tottenham have been told by ex-club scout Bryan King that they should be alert to the availability of former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe.
Spurs are bottom of the Premier League and have not looked good this season. The loss to Aston Villa at the weekend plunged De Zerbi's side to the very foot of the table, with the Villans leapfrogging their fellow strugglers.
There are already whispers that the Italian coach, after five league games this season and the seven last season which helped Tottenham survive, could be given the boot.
If that is to happen, King feels Howe would be a good option for the club.
He told Football Insider: "You look at Eddie Howe, he's available. Howe certainly has been managing for a good few years now and has produced results from his days at Bournemouth.
"He went to Newcastle, won the league cup and then seemed to fall out of favour with the board. I think his main ally on the board was Amanda Staveley.
"The moment she became not involved with the football so much, or the football club, Eddie seemed to lose his main ally there. Again, football's always based on results and he had a little bit of a sticky patch and now they've moved him on.
"He's not a bad manager to be available and he certainly wouldn't cost a compensation fee. It's been a long time since they've had an English manager."
Tottenham to keep faith with Roberto De Zerbi
But multiple outlets suggest De Zerbi has enough credit in the bank from keeping Tottenham safe last season that he won't be given the boot any time soon.
Indeed, it's believed Spurs plan to keep the faith with him, feeling he can turn things around.
Insider Fabrizio Romano is one of the high-profile reporters suggesting De Zerbi won't be going anywhere in a hurry.
He said: “Tottenham decided to back Roberto De Zerbi in the summer by trusting his ideas.
“Obviously everything was not possible, but it was still a very ambitious market, a very expensive market.
“When I say not everything, for example, Cody Gakpo, top target, but was no longer available.
“And then more things they wanted to do, but it’s normal. At no club do they complete the perfect market. But still, big investments and top players signed.
“So, the message from Tottenham, as of today, remains a message of confidence in Roberto De Zerbi
“So at the moment I don’t have any indication of Tottenham exploring different ways.
“I’m told that Tottenham still believe in the manager. I’m told Tottenham knew it was going to take time.
“It’s not a switch you make from 17th in the league, saving from relegation in the final game of the season, to Champions League spots just because you spend big money.
“Tottenham knew it was going to be a process and it can not always be fast.
“Obviously, they all, including De Zerbi, had different expectations. The club, the coach, everyone had different expectations, not two points from five games.
“But at the same time they maintain confidence in the process.”
