Many in the fanbase are rubbing their hands with glee, as Tottenham appears to be making a late claim for some class of European football next season.
‘All we need to happen then…’ so begins the wishful thinking that supports the notion that this is, in itself, a good thing. All we need is for Daniel Levy to have a personality transplant and fully back the very latest of a very long line of managers that have failed to benefit from the right levels of support in the transfer markets.
To date, Fabio Paratici’s success rate lies at 50%. Which, in the overall scheme of things, isn’t at all bad. For every Romero, there was a Gollini, for every Kulelsevski, a Gil; and so forth.
Let’s embrace wild fantasy and imagine that Levy falls to his knees and repents his erstwhile ways. Our CEO tells Conte in no uncertain terms that his heart and mind are won. This latest project cannot be allowed to fizzle out like all the others.
There’s a problem. More than just the one, if we’re honest with ourselves.
At present, Spurs have a number of players loaned out. Tanguy Ndombele is with Olympique Lyonnais. The Frenchman found himself ‘supplementing’ his own wages in order to facilitate the deal, which is scheduled to expire at the end of this season.
There’s been one report out of France indicating that Lyon would be inclined to loan Tanguy on for another year, but there are insufficient funds at their disposal.
Tanguy’s achievements in France have been modest, with just 6 assists, and a single goal. Even if one to argue a case for parity between the Premier League and Ligue 1, does this mean the boy is finally worth what we paid, and what are his agreed wages?
Ndombele is a major roadblock in Conte’s plans – but he’s not alone. There’s the small matter of Giovani Lo Celso.
The Argentine is with Villarreal, where despite making two Champions League appearances in a campaign that has progressed well, has also fallen shy, with no assists and no goals. Add to this, Giovani has been selected for fewer league games.
There are no guarantees that the headaches associated with this pair have gone forever. Indeed, Frank Lampard must be ruing the fact that Everton bought Dele Alli, for example.
The odds of Conte being gifted greater freedom this summer are slim – or do you feel I have misrepresented things?
