Mills: Door is open for Tottenham to appoint Pochettino-like unknown after terms agreed
Danny Mills has claimed Tottenham may appoint a manager nobody in England is even aware of.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-England and Manchester City full-back suggested the imminent arrival of Fabio Paratici could see a new candidate emerge for the post.
Football Insider understands as of June 7 that Spurs have agreed terms with Paratici and he will begin his role as the new director of football this week.
The Italian will have overall responsibility for transfers and contract negotiations.
He left Juventus this summer after nine trophy-laden years with the Serie A giants.
It means Spurs will return to a two-tier structure with a head coach, rather than a manager.
“Ultimately the director of football is the man that hires the manager because he sits above the manager,” Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“That’s why you bring him in, to do that job.
“There’s every chance he may have contacts with someone that he’s worked with in the past, that he knows or maybe scouted before, and he suddenly goes ‘Actually, have a look at this guy.’
“Les Reed was involved at Southampton and nobody had heard of [Mauricio] Pochettino. Nobody knew he was, nobody had a clue.
“There will be managers out there other sporting directors will be aware of that maybe in this country we haven’t heard of.”
Tottenham held talks with Paratici’s former Juventus colleague Antonio Conte last week but they collapsed.
They remain managerless after Jose Mourinho was sacked eight weeks ago and replaced with interim boss Ryan Mason.
In other news, Harry Kane’s “mind is made up” on Tottenham exit U-turn after an update via Sky.