KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: Tottenham’s new manager, in place of sacked Jose Mourinho, will be another Portuguese in Paulo Fonseca. Coincidentally Mourinho is taking over Fonseca’s old role at Roma.

The 48-year-old will renew in north London his working partnership with Italian Fabio Paratici who has already been confirmed as the club’s new sports director.

Fonseca was not Tottenham’s first choice. Talks with Antonio Conte had reached an advanced stage but collapsed over the Italian’s demands for £100m-plus in transfer cash. At one stage it was possible that Mauricio Pochettino could have been tempted back only for the Argentinian to extend his contract at Paris Saint-Germain.

The new man has a major challenge with Tottenham apparently about to lose transfer-seeking Harry Kane while a cloud still hangs over the club following the involvement in breakaway Super League fiasco.

Fonseca made his name in Portugal almost a decade ago in leading the minnows of Paços de Ferreira to the pre-qualifying stage of the Champions League, having finished only behind Porto and Benfica in Portugal’s top division. He then followed in the tracks of Mourinho and Andre Villas-Boas at Porto before wandering to Braga and Sgakhgar Donetsk before his two years at Roma.

At least his work there should have proved a valuable insight into the stresses and strains of managing a capital-city club always chasing the richer trophy-winners in a highly competitive domestic league. Fonseca led Roma to fifth and seventh positions in Serie A and to the semi-finals of the Europa League this past season.

Paratici, also 48, joins Tottenham after 11 years working in a variety of different roles at Juventus. Fans will be curious to see if he can succeed in a difficult role which proved too much for Damien Comolli, Franco Baldini, Frank Arnesen and David Pleat.

** David Moyes has signed a three-year contract extension as manager of West Ham,

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