Conte wants signings at Tottenham as he targets top four

The Italian has his feet under the table at Spurs and he knows where he needs to strengthen

Posted Sunday, January 02, 2022 by Marca.com

Now a few months into the job at Tottenham, Antonio Conte is ready for the club to give him financial backing in the transfer window, aware of what areas of his squad he wants to strengthen.

The Italian has developed a reputation of demanding signings from his previous clubs - doing so at Juventus, Chelsea, and most recently Inter. Spurs are the latest of his clubs to find themselves receiving his instructions for the transfer market.

Since his appointment, the North London side have improved in the Premier League and are now challenging to get back into the top four and the Champions League places, but Conte believes it will take more than just signings for the side to establish themselves as top-four regulars again.

"As I said to you before, to get a place in the Champions League it means somebody has to fail," Conte said. "Otherwise I think there are four big, big teams at this moment and then there are other teams trying to build with important investment this year to close this gap.

"But it is not only one transfer market ... football is complicated. It is not only money, you have to build something important over years. I am here to do this but I know it is going to be very difficult.

"Everybody keeps asking about getting into the Champions League but I want to be very honest with everybody and to tell them we have an important job to do and need time and patience."

With the January transfer window now open, many are expecting Spurs to make a splash in the market, and the Italian now has an idea of the players he wants.

"I asked for time to make the right evaluation," Conte added. "We had a meeting one month later when I was in charge. It was not the right time. Now I am sure, after two months, and waiting for the meeting with the club to speak about this."

Tottenham have been linked with a host of Serie A players in January including AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie, as well as Juventus' Weston McKennie, and Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic.