Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on the appointment of a new sporting director after Fabio Paratici resigned last month, reports the Evening Standard.
The Italian lost an appeal against his two-and-a-half-year ban from football and Spurs are moving on.
The north London club are keeping tabs on former Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Tim Steidten.
Brentford technical director Lee Dykes and AS Roma sporting director Tiago Pinto are also on their radar.
777 Partners Football Group Sporting Director Johannes Spors has also been linked with the job, but he is not a contender.
Steidten is regarded as the favourite in the race, but chairman Daniel Levy is yet to hold face-to-face talks with him.
The 44-year-old left Leverkusen in March but is expected to be back in a job in the summer.
Steidten joined the club from Werder Bremen in 2019 as their chief scout.
He became their sporting director last July and helped them sign the likes of Edmond Tapsoba, Jeremie Frimpong and Piero Hincapie.
Spurs need someone capable of identifying the best youngsters available worldwide, and Steidten fits the bill.
The German also oversaw the appointment of manager Xabi Alonso, who has since been linked with Tottenham.
Levy is searching for a new permanent manager after Antonio Conte left two months ago.
Appointing a sporting director is the top priority before the summer transfer window opens.
Bringing Steidten and Alonso to Spurs could be a masterstroke, but talks have not been opened with them and nothing is guaranteed.
