Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on Roberto De Zerbi and the football world has opinions.

A five-year contract. That is not a short-term patch job. That is a statement of intent — Spurs are betting big on a manager who has genuine pedigree and a very specific, very ambitious vision of how football should be played.

And there is a real case for excitement here.

De Zerbi transformed Brighton into one of the most watchable teams in Europe. He didn't just inherit a club punching above its weight — he elevated them further, playing a brand of positional, high-intensity football that had Premier League giants taking notes. Clubs like Barcelona and Bayern Munich were linked with him for a reason. This is not a panic appointment.

But the questions are legitimate too.

His spell at Marseille was turbulent. He walked away before finishing the job. And Spurs — for all their infrastructure and ambition — have a complicated history with managers who arrive with big ideas and leave with grey hair. The environment at Tottenham demands patience that the fanbase and boardroom have historically struggled to provide.

So which is it? A generational coach finally given the platform and time to build something special? Or a talented manager walking into a situation that has broken better men before him?

Five years is enough time to either build a dynasty or crash spectacularly.

Spurs fans have seen both before.