Antonio Conte has claimed he is optimistic about January transfer business and that the club are working to make it happen.
Conte has claimed his good relationship with the board will help Tottenham achieve good transfer business, but stated that the club are going to do it their way.
This follows on from a January window last year that got very busy late on as Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur both arrived from Juventus on deadline day as Tanguy Ndombele left.
Both stars have become huge successes at Spurs, with Bentancur averaging the second-highest league rating at Spurs with 7.32 from WhoScored this season, while the Swede has scored six and assisted 13 in just 33 games across all competitions.
Spurs will be looking for similar success this year in the market as they will have a fight on their hands yet again to finish in the top four, with Conte telling SkySport: “I have an excellent relationship with the club and the president. We will try to find solutions, knowing that we cannot deviate from the club’s vision.
“The club wants to do things, but with young prospects who don’t have big salaries like Kulusevski and Bentancur. If there’s the possibility, we’ll do something in accordance with Tottenham’s vision.”
TIF Thoughts on Conte’s comments…
It’s a big second half of the season at Spurs with Conte’s current contract expiring at the end of the season, although the Lilywhites have the option to extend it by a further 12 months.
With that in mind, it is worth questioning why the club won’t hand the Italian full rein over the decision-making with Conte tending to be a short-term manager wherever he’s gone – the most games he’d managed in one stint was during his two-year stay at Chelsea.
If Spurs can match last season’s winter window, they will put themselves in the best position to finish in the top four and perhaps also keep hold of Conte, as well as other key players in the squad, so it is a critical few weeks ahead for the club.