Tottenham appoint Leonardo Gabbanini as chief scout as club close in on Destiny Udogie signing

Tottenham have appointed Leonardo Gabbanini, formerly of Watford, as their new chief scout.

The Italian left his dual role with the Hornets and Udinese, who are both owned by the Pozzo family, in May and has been in post with Spurs since the start of July.

Spurs are poised to announce the signing of Udinese’s Destiny Udogie after the Italian left-back completed a medical and signed a long-term contract at Hotspur Way on Monday. The 19-year-old set to return to the Serie A club on loan for the rest of the season as part of a deal worth an initial £15million.

The appointment of Gabbanini is part of a major revamping of Spurs’ scouting and recruitment departments being undertaken by managing director Fabio Paratici.

Former Everton technical director Gretar Steinsson has joined the north London club as performance director, assisting Paratici, while they have also poached Rangers’ scout Andy Scoulding to a senior role.

Technical performance director Steve Hitchen and Brian Carey, who was nominally Spurs’ head of recruitment, are among those to have left the club in recent months.

Gabbanini is understood to have been tasked with restructuring Spurs’ scouting network, having performance a similar role for Watford and Udinese. He has previously had academy roles at Italian clubs Sampdoria and Fiorentina.