Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness believes that Tottenham Hotspur face a ‘crucial’ decision this summer, beyond their search for a new manager.
There has been plenty of speculation on who Spurs’ next permanent head coach would be, with Igor Tudor’s deal running out at the end of the season.
However, it is not just the managerial position that Tottenham Hotspur need to fill as they embark on another summer of change.
Tottenham have reportedly stepped up their search for a new sporting director to replace Fabio Paratici and to work alongside Johan Lange.
Tottenham backed to turn to Dougie Freedman
Paul Winstanley and Dougie Freedman have been linked with the Tottenham sporting director role, and former Everton CEO Keith Wyness believes that the decision will prove ‘crucial’ for the club’s trajectory.
He suggested that Tottenham had the wrong man in place over recent years, and he believes that Freedman, who is currently working at Saudi club Al-Diriyah, would be the right fit for the Lilywhites.
Wyness told Football Insider about Spurs’ search for a new sporting director: “It’s something that Spurs seem to have got wrong for a long time. Daniel Levy controlled a lot of the player decisions for too long. I know he would have listened to a degree to his sporting directors, but he seemed to have the final major decision-making vote. And it hasn’t worked as we’ve seen now.
“It did work for a couple of seasons, and they did all right in Europe, but then it is, you know, the fall from grace is there to be seen from everybody, and I think the sporting director role is one that they’ve got wrong for a period of time. So this will be pretty crucial.
“As I say, if I was Spurs right now, if I was there, Dougie Freedman would be my number one pick. He may be unhappy with the present world events in Saudi and so may want to be thinking about coming home. There’ll be tax implications for him and all those sorts of things as well, but I think he might be my number one choice if I could make it happen.”
What does Dougie Freedman’s CV look like?
Freedman is best known for his work at Crystal Palace, where he held the role between 2017 and 2025 before making the switch to the Saudi Pro League side last summer.
The 51-year-old oversaw the signings of Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Michael Olise and Adam Wharton when he was the South London club’s director.
He has previously also managed the Eagles, as well as Bolton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest, all of whom were playing in the Championship when he was in charge.
However, some sources have suggested that Spurs may have a hard time poaching Freedman from Al-Diriyah, given that he only joined the Saudi club a year ago.