Tottenham Hotspur look like they seriously mean business this summer after finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League.
Sky Sports News reporter Paul Gilmour:
“Following the news that Tottenham have put in £150m of equity funds into the club, the club are clearly backing Antonio Conte in the transfer market this summer.
“They will target several positions including goalkeeper, centre back, wing-back, central midfielder and a striker. As many as six or seven players could arrive. They will need to find the right balance with homegrown players. There is currently an imbalance in this area.
“Conte wants more depth in the squad, and he also wants to add experienced players, a shift from recent times when Spurs targeted younger players.
“There are some at the club who feel it’s inaccurate they didn’t spend in the past but there is an acknowledgement they didn’t always get recruitment right.
“Fabio Paratici can do no wrong at the club currently. Additions of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski have given belief that they are finally getting it right in this area.
“Extensive homework is being carried out on player ability and character. Spurs recently rejected the chance to sign one talented Premier League player because their research highlighted concerns he could be a disruptive influence.”
Spurs seem to have completed a £25million deal for Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma, and they could have other major signings in the works, according to the Times.
The report states there could be four more signings coming in at Tottenham after the Bissouma deal is done, while as many as eight unwanted squad players could also be shown the door by Antonio Conte.
Some of the names mentioned by the Times are Steven Bergwijn, Sergio Reguilon, Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele.
Spurs have so far announced the signing of Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic along with Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster, with both players joining not long after the conclusion of the Premier League season. In fact, both signings have come in before the start of the transfer window, which officially opened on Friday last week (June 10).
The reason that Spurs were able to announce both signings so soon is due to both players having come in as free agents. Under the Bosman ruling, clubs are free to negotiate with players whose contracts have less than six months to run. The rule was brought in to protect players’ interests and ensure they have the best possible chance of securing a contract in the event of their release.
Perisic, who has 113 caps for Croatia and scored in the 2018 World Cup final, had been at Inter since 2015. He won Serie A last season under Tottenham head coach Conte after spending the 2019-20 season on loan at Bayern Munich where he lifted the Champions League.
He said;
“I was watching the last two or three games and, after the win against Arsenal, it was obvious Tottenham would reach the Champions League, and it was good for me because I want to play in the biggest games.”
POSSIBLE SALES
- Harry Winks
zTottenham have placed a £25m valuation on midfielder Winks, with the England international set to leave this summer. Sevilla are plotting a £20m move for Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks after he was told he would not figure in Antonio Conte’s first-team plans.
- Steven Bergwijn
Bergwijn has admitted he wants to leave Tottenham this summer, with a move to Dutch giants Ajax on the cards. Ivan Perisic’s arrival at Tottenham could spell the end of Bergwijn’s time in north London, although a move to Ajax could now be off the cards with admirer Erik ten Hag having left for Manchester United. Ajax are set to increase their bid for Spurs forward Bergwijn by offering £18m for the Dutch international this week.
If Spurs can get these misfits out and continue strengthening, Conte should have a hugely improved squad of players to work with next season.
Tottenham Hotspur only just pipped rivals Arsenal to fourth place but one imagines they could be a real force once Conte has more control over personnel and a full pre-season to work with them.
The Italian tactician has shown in the past what he can achieve if he’s given top players to work with, so there could be very exciting times ahead at Spurs.