Conte commits to Spurs after talks in Turin
Antonio Conte has handed Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy a huge boost by deciding to stay on as head coach.
Conte held talks with managing director of football Fabio Paratici in Turin yesterday and is understood to now be preparing himself to remain in charge.
The news will end speculation over the future of Conte, who spent four days deliberating over whether to stay after leading Spurs back into the Champions League.
It will be welcomed by the dressing room, including Harry Kane, who is thought to be open to the idea of holding discussions over a new contract with Conte in charge.
Paratici has promised Conte that Spurs will try to make at least six signings this summer, with the majority of the £150million invested into the club this week likely to go to the Italian.
Conte still believes there is a big job to do to make sure the club can compete in the Premier League and Champions League, having secured what had seemed an unlikely fourth-place finish.
But Tottenham have demonstrated enough ambition to convince Conte that it is worth him staying to embark on what will be his first full season at the club.
As long as Spurs and Paratici are good to their word, then Conte will spend the summer building a squad that he believes will cope with the dual demands of the Premier League and Champions League.
Tottenham are already on the brink of signing Fraser Forster as the new back-up goalkeeper and Paratici has told Conte the club will target two wing-backs, a centreback, a midfielder and a forward who can also operate wide.
Two of Conte’s top targets are Ivan Perisic and Alessandro Bastoni, who both spent last season at the 52-year-old’s former club Inter Milan. Perisic is a free agent and could operate as a right wing-back, while central-defender Bastoni would cost about £50million.
Eintracht Frankfurt left wingback Filip Kostic is understood to be on Tottenham’s radar, along with Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus, who is considering his future with the champions. Arsenal have registered an interest in Jesus, but qualification for the Champions League could give Spurs the edge.
Christian Eriksen is deciding whether to remain at Brentford next season or consider other options, including a possible return to Spurs.
Conte signed a 1½-year contract, which included an option to extend by a further 12 months, at Tottenham when he succeeded Nuno Espirito Santo in November and has done an incredible job.
Kane is among the players to have lavished praise on Conte and with two years remaining on the England captain’s contract, the club are likely to attempt to open negotiations this summer over a new deal.