TOP OF THE SHOPS
Wise buys could finally make Spurs truimphANT
ANTONIO CONTE is overseeing a transfer window which shows Tottenham mean business.
The Spurs boss has his sights set on making a proper title challenge this season, which has been his target since the day he walked in the door.
He is not satisfied with just a Champions League place because he wants to compete, as he says, for “the major trophies.”
They are now on the brink of completing their fourth and fifth big moves of the summer, with Richarlison poised to sign and Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet set to arrive on loan.
It is Conte’s ambition, which explains why Tottenham are doing a £60m deal for Everton forward Richarlison, even though they already have an outstanding front three.
Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski formed a terrific three-pronged attack in the second half of last season and you could easily accept that was a department which did not need strengthening.
But Spurs have recruited the vastly experienced Ivan Perisic who is a top-quality, clever and proven player, who can not just provide back-up but also competition.
And now Richarlison arrives for big money and can play through the middle, off the wing or as a support striker.
Richarlison has established himself in the Brazil squad, showed his quality last season when he helped keep Everton in the Premier
League and was determined to better himself with a move to a Champions League club.
He will know his place is far from guaranteed, there is big competition at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but that suits both parties because Richarlison is at his best when he is motivated, while Spurs need strength in depth.
Their Achilles heel in recent years has been over-reliance on Kane and Son. Last season, 23-goal Son shared the Golden Boot with Mo Salah, while Kane is breaking goals records for club and country.
But if either of them are missing, they have lacked the reinforcements and results often drop away and can be the undoing of their season.
Now they have genuine options all through the squad and also a depth which is clearly designed to push them from top-four contenders to having title aspirations.
The defence is being reinforced with the expected arrival of Lenglet to add some more quality and strength.
It would be a big leap from squeezing into fourth place to catching Manchester City and Liverpool.
But Conte always aims high and is recruiting in areas he feels Spurs need – with the full support and backing of Daniel Levy.
They beat competition from Chelsea to sign Perisic and the £30m deal for Brighton’s Yves Bissouma looks good business, a real box-to-box midfielder with energy to get forward and also shield the defence.
Tottenham are also in pole position for Middlesbrough’s attacking full-back Djed Spence, as the right back-slot was a troublesome position last season.
Back-up keeper Fraser Forster has also arrived and that looks good business because, on his day, he can be formidable.
When you build on the foundations already in place and add Conte’s infectious desire and will to win, Tottenham suddenly look a force to be reckoned with.
HEY SONNY... WE MIGHT ACTUALLY WIN SOMETHING NEXT SEASON!