Tottenham Hotspur are stepping up their pursuit of Piero Ausilio as their new sporting director as they start making plans for the January window.
Reports first emerged at the start of this month that Ausilio has emerged as a target for Tottenham, after calling time on his 28-year spell with Inter Milan.
It was subsequently claimed that Roberto De Zerbi has already given the green light for Spurs to appoint the experienced Italian.
Some recent updates from Italy have even asserted that De Zerbi considers Ausilio a close personal friend, thus potentially paving the way for the pair to unite at the North London club.
Piero Ausilio’s talks with Tottenham are ‘very advanced’
It has now been revealed by journalist Daniele Mari that the experienced Italian sporting director is ready for a new adventure in the Premier League.
The journalist claimed that Ausilio is in advanced negotiations over a move to Tottenham Hotspur, which could be completed before the January window.
Mari wrote on X: “Piero Ausilio is ready for a new adventure, the negotiation with Tottenham is very advanced. The turning point could come by Christmas.”
Spurs told they will regret allowing Roberto De Zerbi to lead summer recruitment
This announcement comes a couple of days after Alex Crook alleged that Tottenham have made a big error by allowing De Zerbi to lead the summer recruitment drive.
According to the talkSPORT journalist, De Zerbi got his big recruitment decisions at Brighton wrong, with Crook suggesting that the Italian’s exit from the Amex Stadium was down to disagreements regarding the transfer targets.
Whether that is true or not, one would think that the Spurs hierarchy will also want to get an experienced sporting director through the door to oversee the process and the club’s long-term recruitment strategy.
Ausilio certainly has the CV and the pedigree for the role, and his reported strong relationship with De Zerbi may make the 54-year-old the ideal candidate.