Spurs were keen to continue with a co-sporting director model and Sebastien Kehl was close to replacing Paratici after leaving Borussia Dortmund but a deal fell through, leaving head coach Roberto de Zerbi with greater power in terms of recruitment.
While Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor had brief spells as manager last season, De Zerbi was appointed on a five-year deal in March and ensured Spurs avoided relegation.
After beating Everton to secure their survival on the final day of the season, the former Brighton boss suggested a need for the club to have a busy transfer window when he said: “We have 10, 11, 12 players good enough to stay.”
Fernandes is his fifth signing of the summer so far, after goalkeeper Martin Dubravka plus defenders Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Van Hecke.
The latter is a player De Zerbi knows well as he played under him at Brighton, while the Italian coach is a long-time admirer of compatriot Tonali.
There has been a clear drive from the club’s ownership to recruit players with experience and leadership. Although Fernandes is 21, both Lange and De Zerbi highlighted his intelligence and maturity when the club announced his arrival.
Robertson, 32, won all major honours with Liverpool and has just captained Scotland at the World Cup, while Senesi, 29, gained four years of Premier League experience at Bournemouth.
The pursuits of Fernandes and Tonali, both players who have been targeted by Tottenham’s big-six rivals, shows that Spurs have increased the squad’s wage ceiling, which under Levy had proved prohibitive to attracting elite players.
As part of their new trading model, there is also a remit to improve at generating money from player sales.
That is demonstrated by Brighton’s £46m move for defender Luka Vuskovic, a 19-year-old who is yet to play in the Premier League and spent last season on loan at German Bundesliga side Hamburg.
Vuskovic is unlikely to be the last player to leave this summer and further sales will help Spurs to reinvest in other areas of the squad which require improvement, with De Zerbi keen to add reinforcements in attack.
