Tottenham ‘working’ on £185m double signing for De Zerbi

Tottenham’s search for a new sporting director has been paused until the end of the summer transfer window, with full focus currently on rebuilding Roberto De Zerbi’s squad.

Spurs hired Fabio Paratici last October to work alongside Johan Lange in a dual sporting director structure, but the Italian left the Premier League club in February to return to Italy for personal reasons.

Another sporting director was set to be brought in this summer, but chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has confirmed it is no longer a key priority.

Lange, head coach De Zerbi and Rafi Moersen, who has joined as director of football operations, are leading the club’s recruitment this transfer window.

Asked about the sporting director search, Venkatesham said in minutes from a Fan Advisory Board meeting: “The club has confidence in our people, but if we find someone who can complement our existing team and make it better, we will do that at the right time (and in a summer window is not that time).

“No-one has been in a process and turned us down. Many names in the media linked with us, we have never even spoken to.”

Venkatesham said in the meeting minutes that the season was “unacceptable and cannot happen again”, and that “the ambition is to compete for major trophies and play the style of football our supporters want to see”.

He also provided a strong defence of under-fire Lange, who has taken the brunt of criticism from fans after Tottenham finished 17th in each of the Dane’s two full seasons at the club.

“Players are not bought or sold because ‘the club’ wants to or ‘Roberto’ wants to,” he said. “Johan and his team work hand in glove with Roberto to develop and deliver a joint plan.

“Roberto joined because he believes in what we can do together as a team. He had no retention bonus, he has never asked for control over any decision-making, and he was completely committed to the club if we were relegated.

“Johan played a critical role in his appointment. Roberto was always the number one choice and we are delighted with the impact he has made so far.”

Tottenham transfer updates: £185m double midfield deal eyed

While they still have some way to go to win back the trust of the Tottenham supporters, it’s fair to say the club’s leadership have started the summer on the front foot, sealing deals for Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke for a total cost of £52m.

Next on the agenda is to improve in midfield, where the likes of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have both been linked with big money moves, and Fabrizio Romano has revealed some exciting news for fans on Wednesday morning.

Indeed, according to the reporter, it is not a case of one or the other when it comes to the two midfielders, with Spurs ‘working’ on both at the same time.

Romano has confirmed West Ham are starting the bidding for Fernandes at £85m, while the BBC report Tonali’s fee could be closer to £100m after Newcastle rejected Spurs’ opening offer of £80m.

This could take Tottenham’s spending to £185m on the two midfielders and close to £250m in total for the summer, and the Lilywhites still want to bring in a new centre-forward as well.