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Fabio Paratici is closing in on a sensational return to Tottenham, with the Italian reportedly agreeing terms with Daniel Levy to come back in an official capacity – the Italian is set to have the final say on one major decision at the club.

Fabio Paratici’s future has been doing the rounds, as the former Tottenham sporting director is in search of a new club.

Paratici has been working as a consultant for Spurs over the last two years, since being forced to resign from his role as Tottenham’s managing director of football.

Over recent months, it has been reported that Daniel Levy is trying his best to bring Paratici back to Spurs in an official role, once he completes his FIFA ban on 20 June.

Tottenham’s pursuit of the 52-year-old received a major boost when it emerged at the start of last month that AC Milan’s efforts to appoint Paratici as their sporting director had collapsed.

Once again, another attempt to convince Paratici to sign for AC Milan failed to yield a result after their latest Lake Como meeting, with both parties failing to reach an agreement. It was revealed that the sporting director felt he was somewhat messed around by the Serie A side.

Fabio Paratici agrees return to Tottenham after AC Milan breakdown

Now, TBR Football are reporting that Fabio Paratici has agreed terms on his return to Spurs. This comes after further talks with Daniel Levy, and it is confirmed by the outlet that a deal is in place for ex-Spurs director to return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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The 52-year-old cannot officially start work until 1 July, when the 30-month ban he was handed in 2023 for his perceived role in financial mismanagement during his time at Juventus comes to an end.

The Italian will form part of a new footballing team at Spurs, along with new CEO Vinai Venkatesham, who has arrived from Arsenal.

Spurs restructure looms with Fabio Paratici set for power role

It has also been revealed in recent weeks that there could be wholesale changes in Tottenham’s structure this summer, with the club’s recruitment, sports science and medical departments thought to be under review.

Should Paratici return, then he is set to continue in a similar role to the one he held formerly at N17, one that would see him start to call the shots once again.

TBR Football have now also revealed that the Italian director is set to have the final say on Spurs’ managerial situation and will decide who will replace Ange Postecoglou if the Australian does depart this summer.

Tottenham chiefs look set to activate their purchase option for Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso, despite growing competition from rival Premier League sides.

Johnny Cardoso has stood out for Real Betis this season, putting in consistent performances that have caught the eye of several top-flight English clubs.

Tottenham Hotspur have a pre-existing clause to purchase the midfielder, and have been urged by Spurs fans to take advantage of the Johnny Cardoso deal while they still can.

However, the north London club are not alone in their interest. Manchester United have stepped up their efforts and are believed to be making a strong push to bring Cardoso to Old Trafford in the summer window, aiming to beat Spurs to his signature.

Adding to the competition, Wolverhampton Wanderers have entered the picture as well. Recent reports suggest that Wolves are prepared to triple Cardoso’s current salary if he agrees to join them at Molineux Stadium.

Tottenham plan to trigger Johnny Cardoso deal amid Manchester United interest

Fresh reports from GIVEMESPORT have now revealed that Tottenham are seriously considering activating their option to sign Johnny Cardoso in the summer.

The clause which was agreed with Real Betis last year has given Spurs a head start in the race for his signature.

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Behind the scenes, there is said to be increasing confidence within the North London club that the USA international would be a valuable addition, particularly as they look to build a squad capable of ending their long wait for silverware.

While Manchester United continue to monitor the situation, Tottenham hold the upper hand thanks to the pre-agreed clause. However, with the fee set at £21 million, Spurs have a two-week window to complete the deal.

Spurs could still face battle despite Cardoso advantage

While this recent update will be welcomed by many Tottenham supporters, it was also suggested a few days ago by another outlet that Johnny Cardoso himself remains unconvinced about a move to Spurs. This hesitation reportedly stems from the club’s current poor run of form.

Tottenham Hotspur will not be involved in European competition next season unless they manage to win the Europa League.

This factor is expected to play a significant role in Cardoso’s decision-making, possibly discouraging him from committing to a transfer.

Despite this, GIVEMESPORT notes that Tottenham still believe they are poised to land the 23-year-old midfielder for well under his true market value.

The report claims that his valuation has now risen by approximately £10 million, though Spurs would still only need to pay the original £21 million agreed.

Should they decide against activating the clause, Real Betis will seek to negotiate with other interested parties instead.

Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen has slammed his team after Tottenham’s early goal in the first leg, labelling their performance as “completely unforgivable.”

While Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League performances have left much to be desired, the same cannot be said about their Europa League displays.

The Lilywhites continue to impress in Europe, and just on Thursday, they put one foot in the finals at San Mames, after Tottenham secured a 3-1 win against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League semi-final first leg.

The task for Tottenham in the return leg is pretty straightforward, as they just need to avoid a defeat by a three-goal margin, and they are European finalists.

Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen slams early goal as Tottenham defeat sparks frustration

For Bodo/Glimt, on the other hand, they have a huge task on their hands, as they now look to overturn a two-goal deficit next Thursday.

Of course, suffering defeats is part of football, but the manner in which Glimt lost, particularly the fact that they conceded so early in the game, is what now has their manager fuming.

Speaking after the game, Kjetil Knutsen said, as relayed by TV2 Cover: “We are once again in an extremely difficult situation when we concede a goal after 40 seconds. It is completely unforgivable.

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“You saw when Tottenham conceded, they were very disappointed and lost energy. If you ask me, we should have gone for the second goal, but I think we can take a lot of energy with us from this match, to the next one.

“And it will be completely different for us at Aspmyra. We still have a chance. We are not favourites, but we just have to go for it. Hopefully, we can handle situations in the build-up game better than in this match.”

While the manager will be hoping his side can turn the tide, the latest predictions from Opta’s AI state that Tottenham would get past Glimt in the semi-finals.

Spurs warned over Bodo/Glimt’s Aspmyra advantage ahead of second leg

Indeed, Bodo/Glimt still have an ace up their sleeve, and that is their artificial turf at the Aspmyra Stadion.

There was no such artificial surface at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the Glimt manager believes that it ultimately cost his side.

He continued: “For me, there is a difference between playing a match on grass and a match on artificial turf. In grass matches, we have to be closer in the duel game, so that we come out victorious.

“We lose too much in those types of situations, which irritates me a bit. The other thing is that we have too many ball losses. There are a lot of technical things.”

The Norwegian outfit are no pushover and they have already proven in the knockout phase that they are formidable at home, boasting a 100% win rate.

Tottenham Hotspur have suffered some significant injury blows recently, but they have been handed a boost ahead of the second leg of their Europa League semifinal, with Ange Postecoglou confirming that a key man is expected to be available for the trip to Norway.

Spurs captain Heung-min Son has been out of action with a foot injury over the last few weeks, joining long-term absentee, Radu Dragusin on the sidelines.

Ahead of the first leg of the Europa League semifinal against Bodo/Glimt, Lucas Bergvall succumbed to an injury, which has now ended the Swede’s campaign.

During the 3-1 win last Thursday, both James Maddison and Dominic Solanke were forced off with injuries and as expected, neither player was part of Tottenham’s squad at the London Stadium on Sunday.

Ange Postecoglou provides good news on Dominic Solanke

Richarlison played as the number nine for 68 minutes against West Ham before coming off, while Mathys Tel was moved to the central role for the final part of the encounter.

However, it looks like Tottenham do not have to rely on either the Brazilian or the Frenchman to lead the line in Norway, as Postecoglou has now provided a positive update on Dominic Solanke’s progress.

When asked about the England international, Postecoglou said (via Football.London): “Dom’s improving. We obviously left him out today but the medical team are pretty confident he should be right for Thursday.”

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Heung-min Son is in a race against time to be fit for semi-final

Tottenham are sweating on the fitness of their captain, who is now on the mend from his foot problem and looking to make a swift return.

A couple of days ago, Postecoglou confirmed that Son has started training outdoors and the Australian refused to rule out the possibility of the South Korean featuring in the second leg against Bodo/Glimt.

There is no doubt Son’s return will serve as a huge boost to the Lilywhites, not just because he tends to deliver the goods in clutch moments but also because of what he offers in terms of leadership.

Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham played out a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium for the second successive season on Sunday afternoon, with first-half goals from Wilson Odobert and Jarrod Bowen sharing the spoils.

Well, this is the kind of result you might expect against Nottingham Forest or Crystal Palace, not West Ham, who are a bit more adventurous going forward. But with a potential European final looming, most Spurs fans won’t be losing sleep over a point in East London.

In fact, there weren’t too many groans about the lineup either; the opposite of what’s happening lately under Ange Postecoglou. The Tottenham boss made eight changes from the side that started the semi-final, and while this so-called ‘second team’ arguably should’ve had enough to beat West Ham, it was a generally sluggish showing from both sides.

Let’s have a look at our West Ham 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur match report.

First half: West Ham 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

It was a quiet opening ten minutes for Spurs, with West Ham the livelier side early on. Aaron Wan-Bissaka frequently found joy down the right flank, but the Kevin Danso-led defence kept things tidy.

Spurs took the lead in the 15th minute thanks to sharp pressing from Mathys Tel, who nicked the ball off Kilman and quickly squared it to Wilson Odobert. The winger stayed composed and slotted it past Areola to put the visitors ahead.

A few minutes later, Guglielmo Vicario had a heart-in-mouth moment when his left-footed pass landed right at Soucek’s feet. Luckily for Spurs, the West Ham man’s powerless effort went straight back to Vicario.

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Tel then fancied himself from a free kick just outside the box. Rather than curling it into the danger area, he channelled his inner Toni Kroos but the result was more Raheem Sterling-esque.

It was then Spurs’ chance to do some horrible defending and the Hammers got their equaliser. Wan-Bissaka picked out Bowen with a perfectly timed pass. The West Ham forward ghosted past Djed Spence and Ben Davies, before nutmegging Vicario to make it 1-1.

Soon, a running Richarlison fired over after connecting with Spence’s low cross, and then came the real missed chance. Tel found Richarlison with a lovely through ball, but the Brazilian bizarrely squared it across the face of goal instead of shooting. Odobert wasn’t expecting it, and the ghost of Brennan Johnson loomed over that moment. Richie – wrong time to be generous.

Second half: West Ham 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

If the first 45 minutes were boring, the second resumed just the way the first ended.

Tel got the first shot on target, played in smartly by Pape Matar Sarr, but the Frenchman’s effort was tame and straight at Areola.

Mohammed Kudus and Soucek tried their luck from distance, but both attempts were blocked before they could trouble. Richarlison had one last pop, meeting Dejan Kulusevski‘s knockdown from a Tel cross, but blazed over before being replaced by Mikey Moore.

Lucas Paqueta was seen crying after being shown a yellow card. No one really knows why, but the cameras made sure we didn’t miss it.

West Ham nearly found the winner when Kudus whipped in a brilliant cross for Bowen, whose volley curled the wrong way.

On the other end, Sarr let fly from outside the box with a strike that whistled over – with Areola maybe getting a fingertip to it.

Vicario, however, made the standout save. Bowen’s glancing header from a well-struck James Ward-Prowse free kick was bound for the net, but the Italian keeper clawed it away brilliantly.

There was still time for late drama although there weren’t any signs of it. Archie Gray almost turned into his own net while defending, and Ward-Prowse ended the match with a thumping free kick that had everyone on edge – but was off-target.

The xG ended 1.11 to 0.48 in the hosts’ favour. Not one for the scrapbook, but not a disaster either. (FotMob)

SpursWeb Man of the match: Kevin Danso

What’s next for Spurs?

This wasn’t exactly a high-octane clash, but it did the job. The goal was likely to avoid injuries and give minutes to the younger players and the second team – and Spurs achieved that.

So, the ‘El Clasico of 16th place’ ended in a stalemate though Spurs remain above West Ham, who sit 17th. There were some positives: Danso barely put a foot wrong, Odobert and Tel showed flashes of their French chemistry, and that save from Vicario should’ve lifted his confidence after a run of poor form.

Next up? The second leg of the UEFA Europa League semi-final away to Bodo/Glimt on Thursday.

Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham future may not be over just yet, with fresh reports now suggesting the under-fire manager could be handed a lifeline – but only on one condition.

Ange Postecoglou has been feeling the heat in the Tottenham dugout this season, and it is no surprise, as Tottenham are enduring an appalling league campaign.

Currently camped in 16th, Tottenham Hotspur are on course for their lowest ever league finish in the modern Premier League era, and one more defeat would see Spurs surpass their highest number of league defeats in a single campaign.

Such a run is rarely enough to keep any manager in a Premier League job, which is why it is no shock that reports have already linked Tottenham with potential replacements for Postecoglou, as a shortlist has reportedly been drawn up.

Ange Postecoglou could keep Tottenham job if Europa League is won

However, new reports from Football Insider have now revealed that there is a chance Postecoglou could remain in the dugout next season.

According to their report, the only way the Tottenham boss can keep his job is if he leads his side to Europa League glory later this month.

The publication states that, given Tottenham’s poor showing in the league, if the Australian fails to win the Europa League, then he is expected to be dismissed.

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This comes after reports that Tottenham could part ways with Postecoglou even if he wins the Europa League this summer.

Europa League success key to Spurs future and finances

Winning the Europa League would do Tottenham a world of good, not only handing them silverware but also securing a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

The prize money that comes with Champions League qualification would also be a major boost ahead of the summer transfer window, providing funds to strengthen the squad for the 2025/26 campaign.

Postecoglou has undoubtedly had a rough time this season, but despite the poor form, he has managed to keep the dressing room united, with his players clearly backing him.

Guglielmo Vicario has come out to praise Postecoglou’s character as both a man and a manager, while James Maddison also gave his full backing to the Spurs boss before the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.

Indeed, there might still be hope for the current Tottenham manager – but now, it is do or die in the Europa League if he is to keep his job next season.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to face some complications in their pursuit of Argentine starlet Franco Mastantuono after a fresh report revealed the stance of the player’s entourage ahead of the summer transfer window.

Mastantuono is rated as the best young teenage talent in Argentine football at the moment, having already made 55 senior appearances for River Plate at the age of 17.

The attacking midfielder has continued to hit the headlines with his displays in the Primera Division and it appears only a matter of time before he makes a move to Europe.

It first emerged back in March that Spurs have set their sights on Mastantuono, but as one would expect, the North London club are hardly alone in their admiration for the teenager.

Franco Mastantuono has his heart set on joining Real Madrid

Tottenham Hotspur, and any of the youngster’s other suitors, may not have to negotiate with River Plate, as Fabrizio Romano revealed a few days ago that Mastantuono has a release clause of £40m in his contract.

He explained, however, that the player will not be allowed to leave the Argentine giants unless that clause is activated.

Now, TyC Sports journalist German Garcia Grova has offered a fresh update on the 17-year-old’s future, revealing that the youngster is waiting for Real Madrid to make an approach.

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The journalist explains that Mastantuono is not desperate to leave River Plate at the moment and is prepared to wait for the Los Blancos ‘until the last moment’.

Man United pull out of the race for Tottenham target

Garcia Grova further adds that Man United have held a couple of meetings with the midfielder’s entourage but they have now withdrawn from the race.

This is because the Red Devils have no intention of paying the Argentine Under-20 international’s release clause. It is not revealed whether Spurs would be willing to shell out the full fee.

The TyC Sports reporter also mentions that Marseille’s president Pablo Longoria had even travelled to Argentina to negotiate for Mastantuono recently, only to be told that the player is waiting for Real Madrid.

Tottenham Hotspur have now reportedly spoken to the representatives of Lyon winger Rayan Cherki, but the North London club face a couple of potential roadblocks in their efforts to win the race for the youngster.

Spurs raided Ligue 1 during the January transfer window, securing centre-back Kevin Danso from Lens, and the North London club are expected to look towards French football again to strengthen their attack this summer.

It has been reported by some sources over recent days that Tottenham have moved into pole position to land Rayan Cherki, and there has now been a fresh update on the Lyon man’s future.

It turns out that the versatile attacker’s entourage have now reached out to the Lilywhites to find out more about their interest.

This update comes from GiveMeSport, who say that Spurs have given indications that they want to win the race for the France Under-21 international.

The report points out that Cherki has just one year left in his contract and the player’s representatives have now spoken to influential figures at Hotspur Way to gauge how keen they are on acquiring their client’s services.

The winger’s team wanted to check whether Tottenham and other suitors were prepared to head to the negotiating table this summer to test Lyon’s resolve.

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The report says that Spurs are admirers of Cherki’s game-changing ability and could land him for as low as £25m, having sent scouts to check on him over recent weeks.

Spurs face intense Premier League competition for Cherki

GiveMeSport go on to explain that Tottenham are not the only side who were sounded out by Rayan Cherki’s representatives, who also contacted Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Manchester City.

The outlet reveals that Cherki is yet to decide if he wants to embark on a Premier League challenge but he is unlikely to entertain the interest of Fulham, Crystal Palace or West Ham United as he wants to join a side regularly battling for European qualification.

The publication adds that while Liverpool and Arsenal may be the ‘most enticing options’ for the winger, there is scepticism over whether either club will enter the race for the player.

Tottenham Hotspur’s injury problems continue to wreak havoc with another player understood to have suffered a season-ending injury.

Ange Postecoglou has had to endure plenty of disruption to his Tottenham first-team squad this season with a number of key players having spent substantial spells on the sideline.

Now, it looks as if James Maddison is set to miss the rest of the season with talkSPORT’s Alex Crook having taken to social media to share his understanding of the Tottenham midfielder’s situation.

Maddison was in action during Tottenham’s 3-1 win against Bodo/Glimt on Thursday evening, having scored the second goal of the game when he latched onto Pedro Porro’s pass to guide the ball into the far post.

The England international was forced off in the second half of the Europa League semi-final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

James Maddison set to miss rest of the season with knee injury

Crook posted on X about wha the has heard about Maddison’s injury and it does not bode well with the playmaker set to face the heartbreak of sitting out a Europa League final if Tottenham’s 3-1 aggregate advantage over Bodo/Glimt is not overturned.

He tweeted: “Understands [sp] James Maddison’s season is over. Fear is the knee injury is significant with scan results expected in the next 24 hours.”

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The results of Maddison’s knee scan is expected before the end of Monday, with Lucas Bergvall’s season-ending ankle injury earlier in the week having ruled the young Norwegian out of the first leg.

Speaking to the press on Friday, Postecoglou admitted that Maddison’s knee injury did not look good and was awaiting the results of a scan.

What Ange Postecoglou said about James Maddison’s injury

Postecoglou further commented on Maddison’s injury after Tottenham’s 1-1 draw at West Ham United on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur are considering reigniting their interest in Roony Bardghji, and while the North London club face competition from several of their Premier League rivals for the winger, one factor could give them a big advantage over the other suitors.

Spurs have had plenty of success when it comes to signing talented teenagers and helping them mature into top-class players.

One player who has been in Tottenham’s sights for a long time is Bardghji, but the Swedish youngster has been out of action with an ACL injury for the best part of the last 12 months.

He only returned to action recently and it was reported last month that Bardghji’s return had piqued Tottenham’s interest ahead of the summer window.

Roony Bardghji is aware that Tottenham want to sign him

GiveMeSport have now revealed that the Copenhagen starlet has been ‘alerted to the admiration coming from Hotspur Way’ ahead of the transfer window.

The report says that the North London club are eager to keep tabs on Bardghji’s performances, having sent scouts to Denmark to check on the youngster.

The 19-year-old is becoming an ‘increasingly attractive option’ for the Lilywhites as he is expected to be available for just £10m this summer as his contract ends later this calendar year.

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The outlet adds that Tottenham are ‘increasingly confident’ of pairing Bardghji with his compatriot Lucas Bergvall next season as the Copenhagen man contemplates whether to embark on a fresh challenge.

Spurs face intense Bardghji competition but may have one advantage

GiveMeSport go on to explain that Tottenham’s move for the winger has been complicated by the fact that they are facing ‘stiff competition’ from Newcastle and Aston Villa, who have already reached out to the player’s representatives regarding a switch.

Additionally, Chelsea now see Bardghji as ‘a perfect profile’ for their squad while Manchester City are also threatening to enter negotiations.