WAD WILL YOU DO , ANTONIO?
Spurs have shown their ambition now they want Conte to show commitment to them
TOTTENHAM chairman Daniel Levy has effectively put the ball in Antonio Conte’s court.
The £150million cash injection has underlined the club’s desire to match Conte’s ambition and show they want to win major trophies. He now has enough money to strengthen the squad, spend big and try to close the gap on the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool while looking to end the 14-year wait for a trophy. Even after clinching a Champions League place on Sunday, Spurs boss Conte refused to commit himself long-term as he said he wanted assurances for the future.
Conte is a world-class coach and comes with a guarantee of success – but you can also expect fall-outs and rows because he demands the best. Now, Tottenham have publicly backed Conte and there can be no finger pointing or blame game. This is Levy saying they are ready to go all in for a new era of success. The first priorities will be to tie down loan signing Dejan Kulusevski as they have an option to sign him for £24m having paid an initial £8m to Juventus. They also signed Rodrigo Bentancur from Juve – and they are the sort of calibre of players needed to push on.
They also have another instalment on Cristian Romero as there is a £40m obligation to buy on a world-class defender who has made a huge difference.
That will bite into the £150m but there is no doubt that Champions League qualification will also make a difference and suddenly Tottenham look to be going places if they can keep Conte. Spurs do want more players with heavy links to Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus, who has been a target for bitter rivals Arsenal.
Conte may also want a right-back and strengthening in midfield and, slowly but surely, the feeling at Tottenham behind the scenes is that the former Chelsea and
Inter Milan boss has a growing power base at the club. Spurs want to bring back Christian Eriksen (below) after his short stint at Brentford and also fancy Djed Spence after his spell at Nottingham Forest. Fraser Forster is wanted as a back-up keeper, while Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni and Torino’s Gleison Bremer are more ambitious targets. Managing director Fabio Paratici has been charged with overseeing transfers but it was his relationship with Conte that was the game changer. Tottenham have been through so many managers without success, namely Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo.
Now they have a coach to rival the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, and arguably one of the best three in world football. This public statement and cash injection underlines their desire to keep him at the club – but also to make it clear they cannot be blamed should he still decide to walk away.