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Tottenham CEO Vinai Venkatesham has shed light on how the news of the club appointing two sporting directors has gone down with head coach Thomas Frank.

Spurs, who are in the process of changing their leadership structure since Daniel Levy’s exit, arguably took their biggest decision yet this morning.

Tottenham confirmed that Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange will be working together as sporting directors, with the announcement catching many people off guard.

It is certainly a very unusual structure, and the man who might be impacted most is the head coach. We have now heard what Frank thinks of the appointments.

Thomas Frank is a fan of having two sporting directors at Tottenham

The Danish coach is no stranger to working with Lange and Paratici, having done so since arriving at the club in the summer.

Interestingly, Tottenham CEO Vinai Venkatesham has now revealed that Frank has worked in a similar structure at Brentford before and is fully in support of splitting the responsibilities of sporting director between two people.

When asked what the Tottenham boss thinks about the appointments, Venkatesham told the club’s official channel: “I have talked about this with Thomas a lot and he is completely relaxed about it and very happy with where we are going.

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“He has actually explained to me that this structure of working with two people is something that he is actually very familiar with. He tells me he had a very similar structure at Brentford.

“He has a very good relationship with both Johan and Fabio. I just had breakfast with him just now, and he is really looking forward to getting going. He has his press conference on Friday, so you will hear from him about it directly then.”

Venkatesham expects Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange to complement each other

The Tottenham CEO also explained that Paratici and Lange have divergent skill sets, and he expects the pair to complement each other very well.

Venkatesham revealed that he got to know Paratici over the last few months and referenced the Italian’s network as something that will benefit Tottenham hugely.

The Spurs chief said about the two new sporting directors: “I have got very good relationships with them. I knew Johan a little bit before I joined from his time at Aston Villa. Not well, but I did know him a little bit, and obviously, we have worked really closely together for the last four months.

“Very smart guy, very forward thinking, very analytical, and has made real significant progress across a number of different departments at the club since he joined us a couple of years ago.

“Fabio, I didn’t know before I joined, but he has been a consultant to the club, and I have also got to know him very well over the last four months. He is hugely experienced and has a fantastic network.

“With Johan and Fabio, we are bringing together two individuals who are very talented but also, to some extent, have slightly different experiences and expertise. I think they will form a very good team.”

Tottenham CEO Vinai Venkatesham has revealed the two different areas that Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange will be focusing on after being appointed as the club’s sporting directors.

Despite the sacking of Daniel Levy, it was an open secret that Fabio Paratici was set to return to Tottenham in an official role.

However, the announcement this morning came as a surprise to many, with Tottenham confirming that Paratici and Lagne will work together as sporting directors.

The man who made the appointments has now explained what the Italian and the Dane will be primarily focused on in their new roles.

Vinai Venkatesham explains areas of focus for the two Tottenham sporting directors

In his interview with Tottenham’s official channel, Venkatesham has revealed that it will very much be a joint effort by Paratici and Lange, but at the same time, they will also have clearly defined areas of focus.

Lange will be primarily tasked with taking charge of the academy, scouting, performance analysis, and data-driven football insights.

Paratici, on the other hand, will focus on transfer windows, player recruitment, and loan and player development pathways.

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However, Venkatesham made it clear that all decisions will be made jointly, and the two will be working particularly closely together on squad planning and player recommendations.

Venkatesham expects disagreements between Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange

The Tottenham CEO made it clear that he does not expect the two sporting directors to agree on everything.

In fact, he insisted that the divergent points of view of Paratici and Lange will help ensure that the club get more of their big decisions right.

When asked what happens if Lange and Paratici disagree on key decisions, Venkatesham said: “I’m certainly not expecting them to agree on everything. I’m not worried about that. In fact, I welcome that.

“We are going to have a lot of big, important decisions ahead to drive the football club forward, and I am a firm believer in having more voices, having more opinions to make the right decisions.

“I think having both Johan and Fabio in the role means that we will make better decisions. It will mean that we will make fewer mistakes and more decisions that will work for the football club.”

Tottenham Hotspur are in a good position right now, but the African Cup of Nations will see some players become unavailable.

AFCON begins in little more than two months and Tottenham Hotspur would have been without an additional player compared with the tournament’s previous edition.

Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma will once again play at the competition, and Spurs now have another African player in Mohammed Kudus. However, Kudus will not play AFCON because Ghana finished rock bottom of their qualifying group.

This means Tottenham will only be without two players, and since Bissouma is yet to play this season anyway, the club are actually in a favourable position.

How many Spurs matches will the AFCON players miss?

The African Cup of Nations begins on December 21 and concludes on January 18. Tottenham have five scheduled fixtures during this period, but Sarr and Bissouma could miss up to four more.

The fixtures the midfielders will definitely miss are:

Sarr and Bissouma could also miss Tottenham’s trip to the City Ground to take on Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest, should they leave early for AFCON. The fixture is currently set to take place on December 13.

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Four further fixtures could be missed depending on how far Senegal and Mali progress in the tournament.

If teams reach the last 16

If teams reach the quarter-finals

If teams reach the final

Sarr and Bissouma could also miss Tottenham’s FA Cup third round tie scheduled for the weekend of January 10 and the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg if Spurs make it that far.

Tottenham should not be concerned about AFCON impact

Spurs may have only been without the same players during the previous AFCON tournament, but the Asian Cup occurred at the same time. This meant the club were missing key players such as Heung-min Son on top of their African contingent.

The Asian Cup only takes place every four years, which means Tottenham will only lose Sarr and Bissouma this time around.

Sarr has made a bright start to the season, and his loss will be noticeable. However, Spurs do have a host of options, including Xavi Simons and Lucas Bergvall, who can keep Thomas Frank’s midfield strong.

Bissouma does not appear to have a future at Tottenham anyway, so the lack of his presence will not be felt. All things considered, Spurs should not be too affected by AFCON.

Tottenham CEO Vinai Venkatesham has made a very interesting statement after confirming that both Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici will work together as sporting directors.

Since Daniel Levy’s exit as chairman, there has been a major restructuring of Tottenham’s leadership structure, with Venkatesham at the top of it.

It has been reported that Venketsham wants to empower a six-member executive team, with the club moving away from its previous structure, where Levy held ultimate power.

The biggest change in the club’s top brass was announced this morning as it was confirmed that Paratici and Lange will be working together as sporting directors for Spurs moving forward.

Vinai Venkatesham reveals what he expects from Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange at Tottenham

The Spurs CEO has now admitted that the latest appointment of Paratici and promotion of Lange is an ‘important evolution’ in how Spurs want to operate.

Venketesham explained the broad responsibilities that the two sporting directors will have and suggested that they complement each other well.

The Spurs chief said on the new appointment (via Tottenham’s official website): “This is an important evolution in how we operate. The remit of a Sporting Director today is vast, and by uniting two exceptional leaders in Johan and Fabio, we’re setting the foundations for sustained success.

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“They are both outstanding football minds, with complementary expertise and strong track records. This structure reflects our ambition and our determination to compete at the very highest level to deliver for our supporters.

“Together, Fabio and Johan will lead with purpose – building not only a competitive men’s squad, but a connected football ecosystem where every detail contributes to our shared ambition: to make our club a benchmark for excellence in world football.”

Has Venkatesham pulled off a masterclass at Spurs?

It was previously reported that Venkatesham had been impressed with Paratici and was pushing for him to be reappointed by Tottenham.

However, the obvious question on many people’s minds was what position the Italian would take up, given that Lange was serving as technical director.

Many would have thought that Paratici would be made the head of recruitment, but it was unclear if the Italian would have accepted such a role, given how in-demand he is across the game.

Venkatesham thus appears to have pulled off a masterclass by appointing two joint sporting directors, but only time will tell if the pair can work together without stepping on each other’s toes.

Harry Kane has provided another clue on whether he is ever likely to return to Tottenham Hotspur, but he has not given too much away.

Discussions about whether or not Harry Kane will one day return to Tottenham Hotspur have been taking place since the day he departed for Bayern Munich.

Many see Kane as the missing link Spurs need to increase their attacking threat. The England captain has already scored a mindblowing 24 goals for club and country in all competitions this season, despite only making 16 appearances.

However, Kane recently admitted he could see himself remaining at Bayern for longer, while he said the chances of him returning to the Premier League have decreased.

Harry Kane refuses to rule out Tottenham return

Kane has once again spoken about his future and he is not looking to give anything away. The striker has been complimatary towards his former club, but has made no promises about coming back to North London.

He told the Daily Mail: “I’m not sure [if I’ll go back]. I’m very happy here in Munich. It’s not something I’m thinking about.

“It’ll always be “we” [with Spurs] because I spent my whole life there. I’m a fan of them and will always watch them and see how they’re getting on. They will always be a part of my life for sure but as for now, I’m loving it here.

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“It was great to see [them win a trophy this year]. I’ve got a lot of friends there with the players and staff.

“We know how long we waited and how close we’d come in the past so it was big for everyone – the fans, the club and all involved to have that feeling and get that one over the line. That’s always important and hopefully they can push on and win more.”

Tottenham are two players away from having a world class frontline

Once Xavi Simons is at his best, Spurs are going to be strong in attack, but there is still room for improvement in the left wing and centre forward positions.

Tottenham could look to sign a left winger in January to fulfil the role Heung-min Son left behind and bringing Kane back to the club too would make Spurs a force to be reckoned with.

Thomas Frank and the decision-makers at Tottenham should do everything in their power to convince Kane to come home because he could make the difference between a trophyless season and real success.

Tottenham fans will love what Fabio Paratici has said on returning to Spurs as the club’s new sporting director.

Over recent weeks, it has been reported that Paratici remained intent on taking up a full-time role at Spurs despite the exit of Daniel Levy.

The Italian has continued to work as a consultant for the North London club since being forced to resign as the club’s managing director of football two and a half years ago.

In a surprise announcement this morning, Tottenham have confirmed that both Paratici and Johan Lange have been appointed as sporting directors of the club.

Fabio Paratici is delighted to return to Tottenham

Paratici recently accepted an 18-month suspended jail sentence due to his alleged involvement in the Juventus capital gains scandal.

Paratici’s suspended jail sentence allows him to work without a legal case lingering over him, with the former Juventus director not making any admission of guilt.

The 53-year-old has now officially sealed his return to Tottenham and admitted that he is delighted to be back in a formal role at the club. He also shared his thoughts on working together with Lange.

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On his appointment as sporting director, the Italian told Tottenham’s official website: “I’m delighted to be returning to a Club that I love.

“I have been working with Johan, Vinai and Thomas as a consultant for a number of months, and I now look forward to returning to London and joining the team full-time.

“I’m convinced that working in partnership with Johan we can build a special future for the Club and our supporters.”

Johan Lange reacts after being promoted to Spurs’ sporting director

Lange has held the position of technical director at Tottenham for nearly two years, but the Dane has now been handed a broader role in the club’s new leadership structure.

The 45-year-old expressed his desire to build something special at Spurs alongside Paratici.

Lange said: “I firmly believe we are building something special here at Tottenham Hotspur, and I am looking forward to working with Fabio as part of our new men’s football structure.

“We have a talented group of staff and players here at the Club and we can look forward with confidence and positivity.”

Tottenham Hotspur have announced some news about Fabio Paratici which should excite Spurs supporters.

Fabio Paratici is surely one of the most famous directors of football by now. The Italian had already made a name for himself at Juventus, but what he did at Tottenham Hotspur increased his fame all the more.

Paratici played a key role in bringing Antonio Conte to North London and he would go on to be influential in signing Spurs a host of high quality players.

He is credited for the deals Tottenham made to sign Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus. As well as this, it was Paratici who identified Cristian Romero, who now holds the position of Spurs captain.

Fabio Paratici has officially returned to Tottenham

One report previously stated that Fabio Paratici was unlikely to return to Tottenham due to the departure of Daniel Levy as Chairman.

However, Tottenham Hotspur have made an official announcement confirming Paratici’s return to the club as Sporting Director.

He will work alongside Johan Lange as part of a new structure for the club’s men’s football operation, designed to strengthen leadership, collaboration and long-term decision-making. Lange has been promoted to the position of co-Sporting Director, having previously served as Tottenham’s Technical Director.

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The goal of combining the expertise of the two new Sporting Directors is to build a winning, world class men’s team which endures.

Spurs could perform better in future transfer windows with Paratici

Some of Paratici’s signings were massive flops, but he brought in some very good players who are still regularly named in Thomas Frank’s starting lineups.

Since his departure, Spurs have struggled to hack the transfer market. Some good signings were made this summer, but Paratici may have held some influence on this because he was used as a consultant.

With the popular Italian back at the helm, there is a good chance the Tottenham first-team squad will be strengthened with professionals who will play an important role at the club for years to come.

In a recent interview, Thomas Frank revealed which former Tottenham star he would love to have in his current side, and it’s a pick that might surprise long-time supporters.

Tottenham are off to a strong start under new manager Thomas Frank, sitting third in the Premier League table, just two points behind leaders Arsenal.

The same could be said across other competitions too, as Tottenham Hotspur have won one and drawn one of their two Champions League games, and have already reached the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Despite a few games where Tottenham looked slightly off the pace, they have always managed to find their way back. That surely has helped Frank quickly become a fan favourite among supporters who have warmed to his open approach.

Thomas Frank reveals the Tottenham legend he would bring back

In an interview with SPORTbible, Thomas Frank was asked who he would bring back if he could choose one Spurs player from the past.

The Tottenham boss replied, “There are a lot of good players that have played for this fantastic club. I would say the one from the standout one for me would be Glenn Hoddle.”

Frank went on to praise Hoddle, saying, “A fantastic player, vision, technique, and ability, so that would be the one.”

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Glenn Hoddle once tipped Thomas Frank for Spurs

When Thomas Frank was first appointed as Tottenham manager, Glenn Hoddle was among those who publicly backed the decision.

Hoddle called it a “good fit”, praising Frank’s consistency, adaptability, and media skills. He also labelled the Dane’s work at Brentford as “wonderful” and even revealed that Frank had been his first choice for the job.

Looking at how Frank has settled in, it seems Hoddle was right. The new boss has Spurs playing with confidence again, and supporters will be hoping that continues when Tottenham face Aston Villa on Sunday after a lengthy international break.

We highlight five left-wing targets that Tottenham Hotspur could explore ahead of the January window, following their recent nine-figure cash injection.

Tottenham Hotspur received a huge boost ahead of the winter window following the Lewis family’s £100 million injection.

A portion of that amount is set to be made available for transfers, with Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange set to lead the recruitment strategy in January.

With that in mind, here are five left-wing targets Tottenham could realistically pursue in January to bolster their attacking depth and add more balance to the squad.

Kevin Schade is a familiar face for Thomas Frank

Thomas Frank has already confirmed that preparations for the January transfer window are underway, with Venkatesham and Lange leading discussions behind the scenes.

This winter, Tottenham could explore options to strengthen the flanks, particularly on the left side, where there is currently no guaranteed starter.

Wilson Odobert, Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson have all featured there at different points this season, yet none have made the position their own.

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Tottenham have been linked with Kevin Schade of Brentford, a player Spurs fans have described as a “baller”. Schade is a familiar face to Frank, having worked with him during his time at Brentford.

Since taking over at Tottenham, Frank has not yet reunited with any of his former players, with Bryan Mbeumo joining Manchester United and Yoane Wissa now at Newcastle United.

That could change this winter if Tottenham decide to make a move, although reports suggest a summer pursuit might be more likely. The German international has scored one goal in seven league appearances this season.

Tottenham could revisit deadline day star Ademola Lookman

Tottenham were keen to add more attacking depth right up until deadline day, and with a move for Savinho falling through, Ademola Lookman was seen as the reported alternative.

The Atalanta winger attracted interest from several clubs, not just Tottenham, but a deal never materialised as the Italian side were only open to a permanent sale rather than a loan.

Spurs could revisit a move for Lookman in January, although such a deal appears unlikely at this stage. Lookman would be a solid addition given his Premier League experience from his time at Fulham and Everton.

Tottenham have found success signing players familiar with English football, as seen with Joao Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus quickly adapting to Frank’s system.

Rafael Leao could be an expensive ace for Tottenham

It is rare for Tottenham to make a blockbuster signing in the winter window, which makes Rafael Leao a more ambitious option. However, Spurs are known admirers of the AC Milan winger, who has been linked with a move to north London in the past.

Leao has struggled for minutes this season due to a calf injury, but still managed to score in the Italian Cup after coming off the bench for just 17 minutes.

Tottenham would likely have to spend upwards of £70 million to sign Leao, with AC Milan valuing the Portuguese forward at around £100 million (€118 million).

While the move seems unlikely, Leao’s pace, flair and technical ability make him an ideal fit for the Premier League, and Tottenham’s growing financial power could see them test Milan’s resolve.

A surprise move for Jack Grealish next summer

Although this list focuses on January targets, Jack Grealish could be one for the summer. The England international, currently on loan at Everton, has rediscovered his form after a difficult spell at Manchester City last season.

Tottenham’s long-standing admiration for Grealish is well documented. The club were close to signing him in the past, and with his City future uncertain, the move could finally happen.

Everton took a chance on him in the summer after his falling out with City, and he has since earned the Premier League’s Player of the Month award for August.

Grealish is expected to be available for around £50 million next summer, and despite being 30, his recent resurgence could make him an appealing option for Frank. Joao Palhinha’s success at a similar age could serve as an encouraging example for such a deal.

Antoine Semenyo is Tottenham’s dream addition

Finally, Antoine Semenyo remains one of the most admired targets among Tottenham supporters. Many fans have even joked that the club should spend the entire £100 million cash injection on the Bournemouth forward.

Semenyo has made a flying start to the season, registering six goals and three assists in the Premier League.

Tottenham were in the race for Smenyo’s signature last summer, but the player chose to extend his contract at the Vitality Stadium for another five years.

The forward could have been available for around £70 million last summer, a figure that now looks like a bargain considering his current form.

Two highly-rated English youngsters have announced that they are leaving their club, and Tottenham are keen to snap up the duo ahead of their rivals.

Tottenham have had success with their teenage recruits over recent years, with Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and previously Pape Sarr, all becoming important players for the club.

It is no surprise that the club are looking to repeat the trick again. According to reports, Tottenham have tried to sign Archie Gray’s younger brother, Harry, who is also a product of the Leeds academy.

Those are not the only brothers that Spurs are trying to unite at Hotspur Way. It was previously reported that Tottenham are eyeing moves for Middlesbrough’s twin midfield starlets, and there has been a big development regarding their futures.

Tottenham push ahead with moves for Anton and Bailey Palmer

The players in question are Boro’s 16-year-old twins, Anton and Bailey Palmer, who are both highly rated midfielders and have both featured for England’s Under-17s.

In a post shared on social media, Anton confirms that he and his twin brother have both decided to leave the Riverside Stadium after eight years at the club’s academy.

His Instagram post reads: “After eight years at Middlesbrough FC, we have made the decision to leave the club. We thank everyone involved in developing us into the players we are today from the medical staff to the coaches. This club will forever be a part of us. We have made memories and friendships for life, but it is now time for us to start a new journey.”

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According to TBR Football, Tottenham have wasted no time in making a move for the pair, with the Lilywhites already submitting offers for the teenagers.

Spurs face plenty of competition for the Palmer brothers

However, TBR Football say that Spurs are not the only ones to make an offer. In fact, the outlet claims that all five other members of the ‘big six’ have also offered deals to the teenagers.

Additionally, other Premier League clubs, including Brighton and Hove Albion, are also thought to be in the race for the Palmer brothers.

The publication adds that the midfielders are expected to announce within the next week what their next landing spot will be.