The same tactics which helped lure Jose Mourinho to Tottenham are being deployed by Spurs to lure their top transfer targets away from their rivals.
Although the Special One’s tenure ultimately ended in failure, his appointment was seen as something of an eye-opener after the controversial decision to sack Mauricio Pochettino in 2019. Mourinho, though, revealed at his unveiling that it was the set-up at Spurs Lodge, the sleeping quarters attached to the training ground, that played a big part in swaying him.
“Fluffy pillows, huge, expensive…” he enthused. Now it appears the same home comforts are being pressed upon potential signings coming to the club. And the second hidden reason? Within the club, people say managing director of football Fabio Paratici is revolutionising the approach to recruitment.
YVES BISSOUMA RATHER THAN LATER
Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma was expected to attract a number of suitors once he reached the final year of his contract at the Amex.
Paratici was quick on the trail with a powerful midfielder high on Antonio Conte’s shopping list and has quickly sorted out a £25m deal while Arsenal, Aston Villa and Monaco were still assessing their options. It meant that last night he was able to escort him away and tuck him up at Tottenham ’s training ground ahead of today’s medical.
WHEN NO MEANS LAUTARO
Paratici’s particular field of expertise lies in Italy where he spent a decade with Juventus spreading his feelers far and wide.
As a result a message appears to have been fed through back-channels that, Lautaro Martinez’s insistence that he wants to remain at the San Siro may not be quite so watertight as first appeared. GiveMeSport are reporting that a move to England may still be in the offing, with Tottenham top of the list of suitors.
A deal is far from done, however, after Spurs bid £60m last summer for a player valued now at £55m - with Inter Milan sure to try to roll back to 2021 prices for the Argentina international. All that for a man who will effectively understudy Harry Kane will be a real test for chairman Daniel Levy’s infamous negotiating prowess.
PARATICI MAY MISS HIS MARC
Money still talks, of course, and Paratici’s powers are likely to be tested by interest from Manchester City for Brighton’s Marc Cucurella.
The left-back had been identified as a low-cost improvement for Spurs with Sergio Reguilon seemingly not part of Antonio Conte’s long-term plans. Manchester City’s interest, though, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, could turn a £17m steal into a £40m bunfight - a fee which may prove too rich for Tottenham.
