Revealed: Fabio Paratici 'pulling the strings' as Tottenham close in on Radu Dragusin
Former Tottenham director of football Fabio Paratici is the driving force for the club's move for Genoa defender Radu Dragusin, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, editor Wayne Veysey revealed that Paratici is "pulling the strings" for the club's priority January deal and his fingerprints are over much of Spurs' January business.
It is believed that the Italian is Daniel Levy's favoured transfer expert despite his worldwide FIFA ban and the autumn arrivals of recruitment chiefs Johan Lange and Rob Mackenzie.
As revealed by Football Insider (4 January), Spurs are confident they will sign Dragusin this month following new talks, despite his agent pouring cold water on a deal.
Paratici is believed to be key to Tottenham's pursuit of the Genoa star as he looks to move yet another player from the Italian league to north London.
Paratici resigned from his director of football post at Spurs in April last year after his appeal against a worldwide ban from FIFA was rejected.
His 30-month ban for his involvement in alleged financial mismanagement at Juventus was partially reduced, meaning he is allowed to work in football in a reduced capacity.
Sources also told Football Insider (31 December) that the club are in daily dialogue with him as they vie to secure his services early in the window.
Paratici has been the driving force for many of Spurs' most successful signings in recent years including Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Destiny Udogie, Pape Matar Sarr and Guglielmo Vicario.
Four of those players arrived from Serie A, a market that former Juventus chief Paratici knows intimately and where his connections are outstanding.
Tottenham sit fifth in the Premier League after their 3-1 victory over Bournemouth on New Year’s Eve and next play Burnley in the FA Cup third round on Friday night (5 January).