Antonio Conte is said to be keen on six new players to overhaul his Tottenham squad and aim to challenge for the Premier League title next year.
In his first summer at the club, the Italian signed Cristian Romero, Bryan Gil, Emerson Royal and Pape Matar Sarr, with Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski arriving in January.
But according to the Telegraph, he will inform chairman Daniel Levy and club chief Fabio Paratici that he wants six players to revamp the team and fulfil his ambitions of a title charge and trophies, rather than just aiming for Champions League football, in crunch talks at the end of the campaign – just 12 months before his contract ends.
Spurs are locked in a tense battle for fourth spot with bitter rivals Arsenal – with Conte’s side level on points but ahead on goal difference with six matches left this season – and Manchester United, three behind having played a game more.
Whether they qualify or not will dictate the extent to which the club can spend big, but Conte recognises the demands of playing in Europe, whether in the Champions League or Europa League, necessitates a bigger and deeper squad.
The parsimonious Levy may, however, be reluctant to empty the club’s coffers given the recent albeit successful signings of Romero, Bentancur and Kulusevski, and the big-money summer deals for Gil and Royal, neither of which have worked out.
Similarly, Spurs’ plans may be affected by UEFA rules on homegrown players, which could limit their ability to dip into the overseas transfer market, as have exclusively done in Conte’s first year in charge.
So below, Sportsmail looks at the six stars Conte is targeting – including former player Christian Eriksen, Leeds star Kalvin Phillips and Middlesbrough tyro Djed Spence – to reinvigorate Tottenham ahead of an attempted title tilt next season.
Antonio Conte (above) reportedly wants six new players as he targets a title charge next year
The Italian is set for a meeting with club chief Fabio Paratici…