'Very impressive' at Tottenham - Third-placed club unveil new recruit who quit Spurs last year
By Richard Parks
RB Leipzig have appointed ex-Tottenham transfer guru Paul Mitchell as their new head of recruitment and development, it was announced today (Tuesday).
The Bundesliga club unveiled Mitchell, 36, at a media conference in which sporting director Ralf Rangnick explained that he had been blown away by his talent-spotting at former clubs Spurs and Southampton.
“We’re delighted to have Paul here,” said Rangnick, as quoted by the official Leipzig Twitter account. “The results of his work at Southampton and Tottenham are very impressive.”
Paul #Mitchell has been brought in as #RBLeipzig‘s new Head of Recruitment and Development ????
???? #Rangnick: “We’re delighted to have Paul here. The results of his work at Southampton and Tottenham are very impressive.” pic.twitter.com/H7IyKm2UDC
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) February 6, 2018
???? #Rangnick: “I’m confident that Paul will fit in very well here. I’m already looking to some exciting debates about potential new players. We will stick to our concept of only signing players up to 24 years old.”
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) February 6, 2018
Mitchell, 36, has taken on the post at the German top-flight club’s third-placed club that has been vacant since Johannes Spors quit to join Hamburg in December.
Rangnick has had his eye on the Manchester-born recruitment specialist even though he was key to the signing of Sadio Mane from sister club Red Bull Salzburg in 2014 when he was in charge of Southampton’s recruitment.
Mitchell is available after handing in his lengthy notice at Tottenham in October 2016 to signal the beginning of the end of his time at the club he joined from Southampton in 2014.
He was reportedly frustrated at Tottenham senior figures ignoring his transfer recommendations and eventually left White Hart Lane in March of last year after being placed on gardening leave by the club.
Among the players signed by Spurs while Mitchell was in charge of recruitment were Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld, Victor Wanyama, Son Heung-Min, Kieran Trippier and Kevin Wimmer.
In other Tottenham news, Joe Lewis’ transfer plan at White Hart Lane this summer is revealed.
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