Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici could be about to deliver another masterclass in the transfer market.

The Italian chief has had mixed success since he took the helm in north London a little over a year ago but on the whole, it’s edging towards success so far.

Bryan Gil has failed to make his mark, though he’s still young, whilst Emerson Royal has flattered to deceive despite regular game time but the same cannot be said for the likes of Dejan Kulusevski, Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur.

All three have made an instant impact in Antonio Conte’s squad, emerging as three regular starters for the former Inter Milan coach.

Now, as Spurs close in on the signing of Clement Lenglet from FC Barcelona, Paratici could well have struck gold once again, even if it doesn’t look like it beforehand.

Indeed, the arrival of the French flop is hardly going to excite many around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but the same was said for Bentancur, and to some extent, Kulusevski.

These so-called European misfits have hit the ground running with a bit of love and affection from those at the club, and they have since thrived from it.

“Lenglet’s situation with Barcelona reminds me of Bentancur’s at Juventus,” claimed Spurs podcaster Charlie Parrish. “A talented player in need of a fresh start (and a bit of love from fans and coaches) after getting slightly lost in the shuffle playing for a mega club going through a weird period of their own.”

That’s all Lenglet needs to refind his former glory – after all, he’s still ranking as a solid option when compared to his peers across Europe.

The 27-year-old centre-back, who is now valued at £26m by CIES Football Observatory, only managed to play 724 minutes in LaLiga in 2021/22 but according to FBref, he’s amongst the top 1% of central defenders for passes attempted, progressive passes and progressive carries per 90 minutes.

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They also liken his playing style to that of Premier League champion Ruben Dias and to some extent, Spurs’ very own Ben Davies, so that only goes to show that he could well be the perfect fit in not just England but in Conte’s system too.

Lenglet is likely to replace the Welshman in the starting XI in that left-sided role, given he is a natural centre-back.

The FC Barcelona flop could be a “smart” addition for the north Londoners, just as Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano explained to GIVEMESPORT this week. He said:

“It’s a loan deal, so it’s a smart deal for Tottenham because they’re not spending crazy money on the centre-back, on a player who has good experience. Conte wanted him, so he’s a smart deal for Tottenham.”

Whilst Lenglet isn’t going to thrill many supporters, Paratici has earned the right to be trusted with his signings, certainly if it’s had the seal of approval from Conte himself, too.

Just like with Bentancur, the Italian chief could be onto yet another masterclass with this low-risk move.

AND in other news, Fee agreed: Spurs get green light to seal “incredible” signing, Conte will be buzzing…