Conte: Spurs’ Swede star is no turnip
TOTTENHAM boss Antonio Conte believes Dejan Kulusevski will explode into a top player for the club.
The Sweden international has enjoyed an impressive start since signing on deadline day from Juventus, scoring two goals and notching four assists in eight Premier League games.
Even though the 21-year-old is already delivering, Conte reckons the best is still to come.
“We are talking about an important prospect,” the Italian manager said of the loanee, whose deal includes a clause allowing Tottenham to sign him permanently for around £35million. “He is very young, only 21 years old and despite his young age, he has good experience with the national team.
“To play with Juventus for one year and a half, you understand what it means to live with pressure. Probably he could ‘crack’ in the future.
“Also because I can see the intensity, the will and the desire to play. As everyday in training session he is a type of player in his mind to become a top player in his career.
“While I am his manager, I try to help him to improve and believe. For sure, he is an important prospect for the present and for the future.
“He has to continue in this way he has been one month and a half. He has improved physically, tactically and his mentality.”
Kulusevski will be involved as Spurs host West Ham in a crunch game in the race for the top four, knowing they will go above their London rivals with a win and have a game in hand.
After that, Conte’s men will face Newcastle on April 3 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in what will be the Magpies’ first game back after their training camp in Dubai.