'He is similar to Thomas Tuchel' - What people have said about Tottenham target Paulo Fonseca

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on the appointment of Paulo Fonseca as their new head coach and he comes with plenty of reviews from his former players and fellow coaches.

The 48-year-old Portuguese is in advanced talks with Spurs and a deal is believed to be close but not yet sealed.

The news of the former Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk boss becoming the main candidate for incoming general manager Fabio Paratici has not gone down well with much of the Spurs fanbase, but what do those who see more of him week in, week out, think of the Mozambique-born coach?

There has been plenty of opinions delivered on Fonseca by his peers and players during his time as a head coach.

Here are just some of the things said about him:

Fellow Spurs managerial candidate Antonio Conte on Fonseca during his time at Roma

“"He is demonstrating his qualities after his time in Ukraine. Here, you have to settle in. Your opponents study you and prepare very well to stop you. He brought an idea and also used it in Serie A.

"Roma deserve compliments. They have a competitive squad made up of experienced players and very good talent."

Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini who at 24 was often captain under Fonseca

"Balance sheets are drawn up at the end, Roma haven't dropped out of the Europa League yet, even if it will be difficult to overturn it in the return leg [against Manchester United].

"We'll have to wait until next Thursday to take stock. The coach has made, or rather is making, a path thanks to which Roma is improving day by day. He'll get some criticism, as we did, after a performance like that and it's only right that he should."

Henrikh Mkhitaryan on his then Roma boss

"He is similar to [Thomas] Tuchel [who managed him at Dortmund], he is trying to put the players in the right position, giving them the freedom to enjoy their style of play. I've had the best coaches in my career and I've learned a lot not only about the game of football, but also about life.

"Even now that I am 32 years old I want to learn, because I want to know a lot about football and about life.

"We play differently depending on who we face, especially when we have the ball. Sometimes we have to stay tight, other times we have to stay wide. It depends on the game and the situation. It's not about the position you start the game in, it's about the space.

"We try to use the space to create opportunities for ourselves and for our teammates. The most important thing is the chemistry between the players, because if you have chemistry you can do different things .If you don't have that, it will be a bit difficult."

Roma defender Gianluca Mancini

"The coach in these two years has given us all something, he made us grow. He asked us to win, it was his last game at the Olimpico. We felt we could win."

Ex-Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi

"Fonseca is in fourth place and looking at the fixture list he might be even higher in a fortnight's time. To question him is madness, he's had his ups and downs. Roma struggle against the best teams, it's undeniable, but the club is on his side."

Roma midfielder Jordan Veretout after the Europa League two-legged victory against Ajax

"He gave everything on the bench. You can see we wanted to win today. He said strong words to encourage the team and he helps us a lot."

Aleksandar Kolarov on the Portuguese

"What do I like about Fonseca? His idea of football, how he interprets the game, how he explains how we should play and his determination."

Former Milan midfielder Massimo Ambrosini this season on Fonseca's Roma

"I like the calmness, the balance, the desire to always try to lead the games. Last year he had the ability to compact the environment with the many injuries. He didn't manage to put his work into practice in full, but he deserved to be reappointed.

"He's a modern coach, he doesn't focus on a single idea, he tries to make the most of what he has available. I still think Roma are very strong. They're well built."

Nicolo Zaniolo on the arrival of Jose Mourinho and departure of Fonseca

"We're excited, Mourinho is a great coach, he's won a lot and has a great personality. I can't wait to start. Although we must give credit to Fonseca, he has been a professional.

"Until January we were third, with Juventus underneath. I did think about the Champions League and the Scudetto, then there was a blackout, too many close games, too many injuries and too much bad luck.

"Lately I'm doing very well on the right. Thanks to Fonseca I've understood that I don't have to chase everyone, but manage my breath, because when you've got the ball to attack your opponents' goal you need more."

Former Italy international Daniele Adani this season

"Fonseca's football is not superficial, he does his job. Fonseca is a real coach with personality. He makes Dzeko play, he knows what Roma's interests are."

"Do you remember what Luis Enrique said in 2012, when he said goodbye to Roma and asked the media to help the team more? Luis and Paulo are two great men, with the same honesty and the same language, but unfortunately at Roma they have experienced and are experiencing the same problems."

Chris Smalling on getting to know Fonseca

"I think he is very intelligent. We first spoke on the phone, I was still in Manchester and he was describing to me what kind of defender he wanted, how my characteristics reflected that and the fact that he wanted me in his team.

"He really made me feel it, and once the call was over I said, 'Let's do it'. It's great to work with him, I think the aggression and the way he wants us to play is very much suited to me. Also, all the staff are constantly encouraging us by showing us clips describing what and how we need to work and improve. I feel like I'm learning something every day, I'm getting on very well."

Long-serving Roma full-back Alessandro Florenzi, who found game time hard to come by under Fonseca

"That's something that's fundamental for me, respect for people and their work. The coach was very clear about this.

"Fonseca is one of the greatest coaches I've had in football. The problem is that he might not like me in that particular role and that he expects something else from me. I have a great relationship with him and he clearly told me that he didn't know how much space he could give me."

Ex-Roma striker Antonio Cassano during this campaign

"I respect Fonseca, as a man and as a coach. He's a real coach, he doesn't look anyone in the face. Fonseca is a person to be respected for his professionalism, Roma should hold on to him. I think he's done a great job in the last two years.

"Karsdorp has been out of action for two years and he's got him back. He made the most of Ibanez and Villar. Mkhitaryan? The best season of his career. He invented Cristante as a central defender. He's doing an exceptional job. He has to be left to work."

Claudio Ranieri on his successor at Roma

"It seems to me that Fonseca is doing a good job, he is a very intelligent coach who has understood the difficulties of the team and now they take fewer filter balls.

"His philosophy is coming through, from what I read the players are happy so I think it was a positive choice and I'm convinced that AS Roma will have a very good season."