Tottenham Hotspur are once again making headlines for the wrong reasons, with reports suggesting the club is in serious trouble behind the scenes.
According to Sky Sports presenter Marcus Buckland, the situation within the club’s football operations has reached an alarming level, with one source describing it as “staggeringly inept.” Those words will sting supporters who were hoping for stability and progress after another difficult transition period in north London.
On the pitch, things have not gone to plan under Thomas Frank. The Danish coach arrived in the summer on a three-year contract, tasked with steadying the ship after the departure of Ange Postecoglou. While expectations were mixed, few anticipated just how rough the opening months would be.
Tottenham have managed only 11 wins from 31 matches across all competitions, a return that has left them drifting and struggling for confidence. The recent 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup only added to the frustration, with boos ringing around the stadium and questions growing louder about Frank’s future.
Buckland revealed on social media that he had spoken to what he described as very reliable sources, and the message coming back was deeply worrying. He suggested there is now real anger inside the club, with senior figures unhappy about how things are being run.
This sense of disorder has only increased following news that Fabio Paratici is set to leave Tottenham yet again, just months after returning to the club.
Paratici’s situation has added to the feeling of chaos. After serving a 30-month ban from football-related activity, the Italian executive officially rejoined Spurs in October as co-sporting director alongside Johan Lange.
His return was meant to bring clarity and direction, particularly in the transfer market. Instead, it now appears his second spell will be even shorter than the first. Reports indicate Paratici will leave after the January transfer window to take up a senior role at Fiorentina, with journalist David Ornstein confirming the move is expected to be completed in early February.
The reason given for Paratici’s departure is said to be personal, but the timing has raised eyebrows. Losing a key decision-maker midway through the season is far from ideal, especially for a club already battling inconsistency and poor form.
Paratici had reportedly been involved in ongoing transfer discussions, including Tottenham’s move for Santos left-back Souza, who is expected to become their first signing of the January window.
Spurs have already agreed a deal worth around £15 million with Santos for the young Brazilian defender, and he is expected to undergo a medical soon. Souza has been identified as a priority addition following another injury setback for Destiny Udogie.
The Italian full-back has struggled with fitness this season, starting just six Premier League matches, while Djed Spence has often been asked to fill in. Souza enjoyed a strong breakthrough campaign with Santos, making 38 appearances last season and contributing with a goal and four assists, which caught the attention of Spurs’ recruitment team.
Despite this potential boost, the bigger picture remains troubling. Tottenham are also said to be interested in Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher, who is reportedly open to leaving Spain after finding regular minutes hard to come by.
Spurs are expected to compete with Aston Villa for his signature, with Gallagher keen to return to the Premier League just 18 months after leaving Chelsea. While interest in players like Gallagher suggests the club are still thinking ambitiously, many fans feel these moves lack a clear long-term plan.
Right now, Tottenham feel like a club pulled in too many directions at once. Poor results, unhappy supporters, questions over the manager, and upheaval at boardroom level have created a tense atmosphere. For many fans, the most worrying part is not just losing games, but the sense that there is no strong hand on the wheel guiding the club forward.
Unless Tottenham can quickly restore calm and show clear leadership behind the scenes, the anger described by Buckland may only grow.
Stability, clarity, and better decision-making are desperately needed, because without them, even new signings and short-term fixes are unlikely to change the overall mood around the club.
