Tottenham move for Paulo Fonseca at risk of collapse with Gennaro Gattuso lined up

Tottenham’s move for Paulo Fonseca COLLAPSES, as Daniel Levy ‘turns to Gennaro Gattuso’ having been rejected by a string of targets and after Italian quit Fiorentina, just 23 days into the job

  • Paulo Fonseca’s appointment as the new Tottenham manager has fallen through
  • An official announcement confirming arrival of ex-Roma boss seemed imminent
  • It would mean Spurs miss out on another manager as they look to replace Jose Mourinho, who was sacked back in April and is heading to Roma
  • Spurs will reportedly  turn to Gennaro Gattuso, who sensationally quit Fiorentina this week after just 23 days following a dispute over transfers


Tottenham‘s move to appoint Paulo Fonseca as their new manager has collapsed after talks broke down.

His appointment seemed imminent with his contract verbally agreed but now reports in Italy suggest Spurs are unwilling to stretch to Fonseca’s pay demands.

Instead, the north London club will turn their attention to Gennaro Gattuso, who sensationally quit Fiorentina this week after just 23 days in charge.

It is the latest twist in Daniel Levy’s increasingly desperate search for Jose Mourinho’s full-time successor.  

They had already missed out on Julian Nagelsmann, Brendan Rodgers, Erik ten Hag, Antonio Conte and Mauricio Pochettino with pre-season fast approaching.  

Tottenham’s negotiations to appoint Paulo Fonseca as their new manager ‘have collapsed’

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will have to turn attention to another candidate for the new boss

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will have to turn attention to another candidate for the new boss

Gennaro Gattuso, who sensationally quit Fiorentina after just 23 days, is the new target

Gennaro Gattuso, who sensationally quit Fiorentina after just 23 days, is the new target

Sky Sport Italia reported that Spurs have broken off talks with Fonseca for ‘fiscal reasons’ and attentions have turned to Gattuso. 

It came just two days after Tottenham’s new managing director of football Fabio Paratici said Fonseca was on the verge of signing a two-year deal. 

Gattuso, 43, walked out of Fiorentina having only been appointed there on May 25 following a dispute over transfers and the former Napoli boss could now suddenly be on his way to the Premier League. 

Fonseca guided Roma to the Europa League semi finals this season, but they were dumped out by runners-up Manchester United. Former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has since taken the job that was vacated by Fonseca.  

Fonseca guided Roma to the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League last season

Fonseca guided Roma to the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League last season

Tottenham sacked Jose Mourinho back in April and the search for his successor rolls on

Tottenham sacked Jose Mourinho back in April and the search for his successor rolls on

The 48-year-old was not the club’s first choice but his track record of developing youngsters, as well as his capacity to play eye-catching football, had held sway.  

Fonseca was a candidate for the Tottenham job before Pochettino was appointed in 2014 and is in a similar mould to the Argentine as a manager with his ability to work with tight budgets as well as trusting youth players.  

But now his appointment has collapsed just days before an official announcement was expected.