Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on the appointment of Paulo Fonseca as their next manager.
The 48-year-old will be the man tasked with replacing Jose Mourinho in the dugout whilst the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ takes his fellow countryman’s place at AS Roma.
He’ll have a mighty task on his hands, not at least because he was thought to be the club’s sixth choice for the role.
Fonseca will arrive in North London knowing that his star striker Harry Kane wants to leave, the futures of several players are up in the air, the defence needs a major overhaul and much of the deadwood needs to be moved on.
However, he does meet the key criteria set out by chairman Daniel Levy, who very early on in the process – some six to seven weeks ago – was said to desire an ‘attack-minded’ head coach who could commit to the development of the club’s young stars.
Do you want to see more of Sessegnon in 2021/22?
Yes please!
No thanks!
In the former Shaktar Donetsk boss, they get just that.
Fonseca’s Roma side may have struggled to pick up results on the pitch but their style of play has drawn plenty of plaudits, ranging from The Athletic’s James Horncastle describing them as the league’s “entertainers” alongside Atalanta and Sassuolo, to Portuguese journalist Alex Goncalves once dubbing it as “stylish football.”
Ryan Sessegnon would have been one player Levy had in mind for next season and, following a successful loan spell at Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim, he’s surely in line to play more regularly for Spurs’ senior side.
Indeed, if Fonseca unleashes the versatile wide man next season, he could save himself, Levy, and the club several millions in the transfer market.
What makes the 21-year-old gem so appealing is his ability to play anywhere down that left flank, and given the Portuguese has often gone to a three-at-the-back wing-back system, the youngster could provide backup to Sergio Reguilon.
The futures of Erik Lamela, Lucas Moura and Gareth Bale are all up in the air, meaning that Spurs could have a shortage of out-and-out wingers going into next season. Again, Sessegnon solves this problem.
Now valued at just over £16m by Transfermarkt, the England under-21 international must step up if given an opportunity. It’s time for him to deliver on the huge potential with which he has always been touted throughout his short career to date.
“He is a big, big talent. The sky is the limit for him. He may become one of the world’s best in his position,” claimed Sessegnon’s former Fulham teammate Stefan Johansen. “He is an incredibly down to earth person who works hard every day. His future seems very bright.”
Hoffenheim sporting director Alexander Rosen has described him as a “highly talented and fast wide player, with a strong left foot.”
If he gets the Spurs job, Fonseca must look to develop the young dynamo next season. In the process he could save the club millions – or at the very least invest those funds in another area, such as the defence.
AND in other news, Paratici could land Spurs a perfect Kane replacement in £26m-rated beast who’s “so crazy”…