Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is closing on a new sporting director.

Levy wants to hire a replacement for Fabio Paratici installed before he settles on a new manager appointment.

The London Evening Standard says Levy is working from a three-man shortlist.

Former Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Tim Steidten is a candidate, along with Brentford's Lee Dykes and Roma football chief Tiago Pinto.

Steidten is a free agent after leaving Bayer in March amid claims of talks with Liverpool.