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Tottenham sporting director Fabio Paratici has opened up on his ordeal through the Juventus capital gains scandal and has pleaded his innocence.

Two and a half years after being forced to resign from his role as managing director of Tottenham, Paratici is now officially back as Spurs sporting director.

The Italian will be working together with Johan Lange in that role, and according to reports, Paratici has already started working on January transfer targets for Tottenham.

The 53-year-old served as a consultant for Spurs in the two and a half years that he was banned by FIFA after his alleged involvement in the Juventus capital gains scandal.

Tottenham sporting director Fabio Paratici opens up on his feelings about the FIFA ban

For the first time, Paratici has opened up on the accounting scandal and the toll that it took on him.

He explained that he felt ashamed to even defend himself due to the risk of appearing guilty, insisting that the issue had to do with an accounting principle that had never been used before or since.

When asked about his involvement in the scandal and his ban, Paratici told Sky Sport Italia: “Considering my personality, when I faced this situation, I felt ashamed to defend myself. Because you only defend yourself when you have done something wrong, and inside myself, I always felt that I did nothing wrong.

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“It was a very long process; you have to deal with situations that you never thought you’d face. At the end of it all, you feel almost as if it improved you as a person.

“Nobody ever explained that Juventus and all the people involved, including me, were not condemned for the ‘artificial’ or distorted valuation of players, but for an accounting principle that had never been used before, or since. There are dozens of criteria to change the valuation of a player; otherwise, we wouldn’t talk about opportunities.”

Paratici reveals why he accepted a plea bargain

Paratici recently accepted a plea bargain deal from the Italian authorities, which included an 18-month suspended jail sentence for his alleged part in the 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 explained that he accepted the deal in order to continue his career in football.

He added: “Accepting a plea bargain was the responsible decision, because this situation dragged on for four and a half years, the sporting ban had already expired, and the civil trial was only in the preliminary stage.

“We wouldn’t have known for years how or when it would conclude. That damages your career possibilities, so you decide to be responsible, accept the plea bargain, and it ends there.”

Tottenham Hotspur want to bring an experienced midfielder back to the Premier League, but they face competition from two other English sides and a European giant for his signature.

For a few years now, the Serie A has become the competition where Premier League flops go to revive their career.

No one has arguably had a quicker turnaround than Scott McTominay, who went from a much-maligned figure at Man United to being one of the central pillars of the Napoli side, which won the Scudetto last term.

Over recent weeks, it has been suggested Spurs are eyeing a move for McTominay in the January window, with Thomas Frank keen to reinforce his options in midfield.

Tottenham face plenty of competition for Scott McTominay

It has now been reported by Mark Brus on CaughtOffside that Man United have entered the race to re-sign the 28-year-old, who they sold to Napoli back in the summer of 2024.

The journalist states that United have been impressed with McTominay’s development and want to bring him back to Old Trafford, while Newcastle United and Barcelona are also circling over the midfielder.

Brus claims that an industry source told him: “There is concrete interest in Scott McTominay. Manchester United would have him back and keep an eye on Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur. Barcelona also view him as someone who could be a good fit for their midfield.”

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How much will Spurs have to pay for McTominay in January?

Brus explains that despite the growing interest in the Scotland international’s services, getting him out of Naples will not be easy.

This is because McTominay has no intention of pushing for a move, which means that the offer will have to be big enough to test Napoli’s resolve and tempt them into cashing in.

He adds that it could take a bid of at least €50m (£44.2m) to prise the midfielder away from the Diego Maradona Stadium in January.

Tottenham Hotspur have delivered Thomas Frank some bad news regarding a winger that the Dane was keen to add to his squad.

Spurs’ lack of cutting-edge in attack has been well-documented this season, and it has been suggested that the Lilywhites could break the bank to solve that problem in January.

According to some sources, Tottenham want to make a statement signing in attack during January, with one Brazilian said to be on the club’s radar after they missed out on him in the summer.

Many Spurs fans would have guessed that we are referring to Rodrygo, whom Tottenham have been installed as the front-runners for by some outlets over recent weeks.

Tottenham decide against making a move for Rodrygo in January

TEAMtalk now provide some bad news for Spurs supporters, revealing that the North London club’s pursuit of the Real Madrid star has been ‘quashed’.

It is explained that despite Thomas Frank’s admiration for Rodrygo, the player’s salary demands have been deemed too high by the Lilywhites, who want to keep their wage bill low for now.

The outlet says that Tottenham Hotspur have ruled out a move for the 24-year-old in January, despite Real Madrid dropping his asking price from €100m (£88.3m) in the summer to €60m (£53m) now.

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Interestingly, the report states that Spurs could reignite their interest in the winger next summer if he is still on the market by then.

Man City are determined to land Rodrygo in January

However, it looks unlikely that the pacy winger will be available next summer as TEAMtalk claim that Man City are stepping up their pursuit of the player, who is now ‘on the brink of a departure’ from Madrid.

The Cityzens scoured Rodrygo extensively last summer, with Pep Guardiola identifying him as the ‘ideal’ winger for his squad, and it is the Manchester club who are now at the front of the queue to land him.

Chelsea have monitored the Real Madrid star, but they have opted against moving for him as they do not want to disturb the progress of talents like Estevao.

Finally, the publication adds that while Rodrygo is keen for a change of scenery in search of regular game time, Xabi Alonso’s men would prefer to sell him next summer.

A budding defensive midfield starlet is on Tottenham’s radar in January, but the Lilywhites face plenty of competition for his signature.

The Spurs midfielder conundrum is not one that Thomas Frank appears to have solved. The Tottenham boss insists he is happy with his midfield balance, but not many supporters feel the same way.

The Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha double-pivot impedes Spurs going forward, with either player tending to play too many line-breaking passes.

At the same time, it is undeniable that the double pivot has made Tottenham Hotspur more solid defensively. It appears that the Lilywhites are considering entering the market to solve the conundrum.

Tottenham are eyeing a move for Serbian international Aleksandar Stankovic

According to journalist Metteo Moretto, Tottenham Hotspur are now eyeing a move for young Club Brugge star Aleksandar Stankovic.

Stankovic has been one of the Belgian club’s best players this season since his summer switch from Inter Milan, and his displays have caught the attention of the Lilywhites.

Moretto reports that the Serbian international is also wanted by Newcastle United, while his former club, Inter, are also keeping a close eye on his development.

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Spurs have to act fast to land Stankovic

If Spurs wish to sign the Club Brugge starlet, they may have to act in January. Otherwise, they risk missing their chance.

This is because, according to Sempre Inter, the Nerazzurri attached two buy-back clauses to the Stankovic deal when they sold him to the Belgian side in the summer.

The first clause is worth €23m (£20.3m) and becomes active in the summer of 2026, while the next one, worth €25m (£22m), is active in 2027.

A Tottenham Hotspur star has the best shot conversion ratio in the Premier League, and Spurs fans may be surprised to learn who it is.

One of Tottenham’s main issues this season has been the struggles of their strikers in front of goal. While Richarlison has scored four goals in the Premier League, he has been anything but clinical.

The same can be said of Mathys Tel, although the youngster has shown some promising signs in the game time that he has had.

Randal Kolo Muani now faces an extended spell on the injury table, and the Frenchman is still waiting for his first goal in a Tottenham shirt.

Tottenham defender has been the most clinical player in the Premier League

The Premier League website have now provided a list of the most clinical players across the division, and one Spurs defender is at the top.

In a list dominated by forwards and attacking midfielders, Micky van de Ven is the sole defender in the top five.

The Dutchman’s 42.86 per cent conversion rate is the joint-highest among the 32 players who have scored at least three goals across the Premier League.

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Brighton’s Danny Welbeck has the exact same conversion rate as the Tottenham defender, but finds himself higher on the list, owing to the fact that he has scored six goals in the competition.

Could Thomas Frank get more of Van de Ven going forward?

Thomas Frank challenged Van de Ven to score more goals this season, and the 24-year-old has certainly delivered, having six goals to his name so far across all competitions.

While the Netherlands international has showcased his ability to carry the ball forward plenty of times, what is also evident from these stats is that he is a decent finisher.

Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of one long-standing striker target has now taken a new twist, with the winter window fast approaching.

Tottenham Hotspur have been heavily linked with a move for Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic in recent months.

That interest had appeared concrete given the club’s desire to bring in a recognised number nine this winter, following the struggles of the current forwards in north London.

The Serbian striker, 25, has scored six goals in Serie A this season, which is two more than any of Spurs’ current number nines in this spell, with Richarlison leading that particular chart on four goals.

Tottenham move away from Dusan Vlahovic pursuit

TeamTalk are now reporting that Tottenham have decided against pursuing a deal for Dusan Vlahovic in the January transfer window.

It is claimed that instead of the Serbian, Thomas Frank is pushing for a forward with a different profile.

Previous reports had suggested that Spurs could sign Vlahovic on a cheap fee in the winter window, given that his Juventus contract expires in the next six months.

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However, it is now believed that Tottenham have stepped away from the race, with club sources indicating they will not make an approach for Vlahovic in January, nor engage in talks if they are approached regarding his availability again.

There is an internal belief that the Juventus man is not a stylistic fit for what Spurs require at this stage of Frank’s rebuild.

Spurs eye alternative striker options under Thomas Frank

These latest reports arrive at a time when Vlahovic is beginning to find form again in Turin.

The 25-year-old has seen an upturn in his performances, with his career at Juventus given renewed impetus following the arrival of Luciano Spalletti as head coach.

The feeling around Juventus is that optimism is growing regarding a new long-term contract being agreed by the end of the season, which would effectively take him off the market entirely.

A new set of numbers show Tottenham sitting behind every other Premier League club in a fundamental attacking stat, highlighting just how big an impact the injuries have had on them.

Thomas Frank’s first season at Tottenham Hotspur has delivered moments that suggested Spurs were finally finding consistency, but those spells have been mixed with performances that left supporters increasingly frustrated.

The 0-1 defeat to Chelsea at home, which marked a fifth straight loss to their London rivals, was probably the moment the mood properly shifted, because of how lifeless and unthreatening Spurs looked across the ninety minutes.

The deserved boos at full-time stemmed from the fact that Tottenham barely created a meaningful chance, mustering a record low 0.05 xG, and would have been punished far more heavily if Guglielmo Vicario hadn’t produced several outstanding saves.

It wasn’t an isolated case either. The 0-0 draw with Monaco in the Champions League and the early-season 0-1 defeat to Bournemouth were both tough watches, and those moments chipped away at the goodwill Frank built in his opening weeks.

Tottenham rank bottom for through balls in Premier League

A few weeks ago, Spurs fans were celebrating a stat that showed Tottenham were top of the league for overperforming their expected goals. Put simply, they were finishing difficult chances well. But that stat also hinted at a bigger issue: they weren’t creating enough clear-cut opportunities in the first place.

The Athletic has now revealed that Tottenham sit 20th in the Premier League for through balls played: just four in eleven league matches, an average of 0.36 per game. For comparison, top-of-the-table Arsenal have played 40 in the same period.

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The four Tottenham have managed came one each from Pedro Porro, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Sarr and Xavi Simons, and this is a big proof of how pragmatic Thomas Frank’s approach has been.

For context, Spurs played 91 through balls under Ange Postecoglou in 2023/24 (2.39 per game) and even last season’s decline to 54 still looks miles healthier than what Frank’s side are producing now. (Fbref)

How Tottenham can fix the problem

Of course, the absences of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski have played a big part in Spurs ranking so low, as those two led the team for through balls last season.

Maddison is still a long way from returning, while Kulusevski has resumed training, though his comeback date remains unclear.

There’s still a clear path forward for Spurs if they want to rebuild their attacking rhythm without the two, and much of it centres around giving Xavi Simons the freedom he needs to operate.

When he has runners around him, as we saw with Brennan Johnson in the Copenhagen match, he’s far more confident driving into spaces.

That support has to become a regular feature rather than an occasional moment. Pairing him with a more dynamic midfielder like Pape Sarr or Lucas Bergvall instead of the Bentancur-Palhinha duo would also give him the central options he’s been missing.

Frank will also need to improve his use of shadow strikers, something he’s tried with Bergvall and Sarr, but without the timing to really pull defenders out of shape. If that movement becomes more coordinated, the forwards will finally get the gaps they’ve been waiting to attack.

A Swedish national team official has explained why Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall has been withdrawn from training with his national side.

Lucas Bergvall suffered a concussion against Chelsea a week and a half ago and was forced off in just the seventh minute of the contest.

Bergvall subsequently missed Tottenham’s matches against Copenhagen and Manchester United, but he linked up with the Sweden squad ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Slovenia.

Earlier this week, Sweden boss Graham Potter revealed that the hope was for Bergvall to join full training on Thursday, but the 19-year-old has suffered a setback.

Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall did not pass the medical tests

It emerged on Friday morning that Bergvall has withdrawn from the Swedish squad entirely due to fitness issues.

National team official Stefan Pettersson has now revealed that the Tottenham Hotspur man was put through some tests, and it was decided that he should not be risked after he had ‘a reaction’.

Pettersson told Sportbladet: “Lucas was of course very disappointed. We had agreed with Tottenham’s doctor to do some tests during the week and then drive at full speed so that Lucas would feel it properly. When there was a reaction, there was no hesitation. We don’t want to take any risks.”

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How long can Bergvall be ruled out of action?

According to the FA’s rule book, there is an expectation of gradual return-to-play (GRTP) for concussed players, which can last as long as 21 days.

The North London derby at the Emirates will be played on September 23, which comes 22 days after the clash against Chelsea.

However, one would expect the teenager’s safety to be prioritised above all, and Tottenham would likely not risk rushing him back if he does not pass the necessary tests ahead of the big game.

Tottenham Hotspur could be tempted into the market again this winter, as one of their past attacking targets edges closer to a possible January exit amid growing tension at his current club.

Tottenham Hotspur have the numbers in attack, with Richarlison, Randal Kolo Muani, Mathys Tel and Dominic Solanke all available to Thomas Frank at the top end of the pitch.

However, the question remains about quality rather than quantity. Reports suggest that Tottenham are still open to strengthening their forward line, a hint that there may be concerns internally about the current options leading the line.

Tottenham attempted to secure a late forward signing on deadline day and eventually landed Muani, but with the Frenchman now expected to be sidelined for more than two months, speculation has once again intensified around possible reinforcements.

Tottenham monitor Ademola Lookman situation

Ademola Lookman was one of the players Tottenham had been linked with last summer, but they failed to secure the former Fulham man, with Atalanta pushing for a permanent deal while Spurs preferred a loan move.

According to TuttoJuve, Lookman is now seriously considering a January departure from Atalanta. The 28-year-old has reportedly handed in a transfer request on two separate occasions, yet a sale has never materialised.

The Nigerian international, who finished in the top ten of the Ballon d’Or rankings following Atalanta’s Europa League triumph a few seasons ago, has had a few issues with the Italian club.

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More recently, he was involved in a near altercation with Ivan Juric after being substituted against Marseille.

With Lookman said to be eyeing an exit, Tottenham are among the clubs monitoring his situation closely.

However, competition appears to be rising, with Atletico Madrid believed to be moving swiftly to get ahead of Spurs in the race for his signature.

Spurs weighing up Atalanta tension and €60m (£51m) claim

The report further claims that Atletico are preparing a €60m (£51m) offer and have already made initial contact with Lookman’s representatives, hoping to capitalise on the growing tensions between the player and the Serie A side.

That claim, however, could easily also be a tactic from Atalanta aimed at putting pressure on Tottenham and other interested sides.

A €60m (£51m) valuation, particularly at this stage, feels excessive given that Lookman’s contract with Atalanta runs until the summer of 2027.

Tottenham can secure a bargain deal, and it could represent a worthwhile gamble, but they are unlikely to be drawn into any bidding war driven by these Atletico Madrid claims.

Tottenham appear to be exploring a potential January move that could see them land a struggling Serie A forward, with talks over a possible loan deal already said to be on the table.

Reports linking Tottenham Hotspur with a move for Jonathan David are not entirely new.

Spurs were linked with the Canadian international during both the winter and summer windows earlier this year, before he made the switch to Serie A side Juventus.

That move has not gone to plan for David, who has managed just one goal for the Old Lady all season and is slowly falling down the pecking order in Turin.

Juventus are said to be open to moving David on to reduce their wage bill, with the striker currently earning around £5.2 million per season.

Juventus open to Tottenham loan with option to buy for Jonathan David

Recent reports have once again linked Tottenham with the 25-year-old, with the Lilywhites understood to have enquired about the forward.

Fresh claims from TuttoSport suggest that David is not in the right frame of mind to play for Juventus at the moment, following heavy scrutiny from the Italian media.

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The Canadian forward is reportedly attracting interest from several clubs, with AC Milan, Chelsea, and Tottenham all monitoring his situation closely.

Spurs are believed to have made multiple enquiries about David, while Juventus remain reluctant to sanction a permanent sale at this stage, instead preferring a loan arrangement.

It is understood, however, that the Serie A giants could soften their stance if a club like Tottenham proposed a loan deal that included an option to buy at the end of the season.

Spurs exploring attacking options ahead of January

Tottenham have been linked with several attacking players in recent weeks, as Thomas Frank looks to strengthen his frontline ahead of the January transfer window.

Among the names linked is another Juventus striker, Dusan Vlahovic, who could become a free agent in six months if his contract situation in Turin is not resolved.

If David were to leave Juventus, Vlahovic could stay put, which in turn might hinder Tottenham’s chances of landing him later down the line.