Tottenham Hotspur is keen on improving its backline this summer, and their reported number one target is Inter Milan central defender Alessandro Bastoni. Manager Antonio Conte likely wants to reunite with his former player.
Nonetheless, despite the Italian tactician wanting his former player, it doesn’t seem the feeling might be mutual. According to Tutto Mercato (via Spurs Web), Tottenham would pay the high fee for Bastoni. However, the 23-year-old defender does not want to leave Inter Milan.
If accurate, at some point, Tottenham will need to cut bait and search for another central defender that will be ecstatic to join the club and project they’re building under Conte.
Spurs have been linked to various other center-backs, and it seems as though they will need to dive into this list and say goodbye to the idea of a reunion with Bastoni. The Serie A club might need the money, but no sense in paying for a player whose heart isn’t set on a departure.
Spain, Belgium, Holland, Portugal all bring in younger talent from South America, Africa and are good leagues to know a lot about.
I’m sure there’s some decent talent in France too but Levy only went there to Hoover up any ‘bargains’. Genius! 😂
Exactly, if you’ve been paying attention he’s brought in nobody of note outside that frame of reference. I feel someone also experienced in England, Spain or even Germany will have a wider knowledge/view of the transfer market. there’s a more diverse source of players traded in those leagues. Outside of the big three or four clubs there there isn’t the money sloshing around in Italy and unlike Spain and Germany they don’t tend to seek out as much South American talent as much either.
He’s only ever worked in Italy, I feel this might limit him somewhat and I’ve seen very little so far to change that perception. The fact that he got so desperate that he even turned to Gatusso, because he knew him from Italy I imagine…
Kuluevski is going to remain on Loan next season and signed permanently next summer
Was Luis Diaz expensive?
Well he did try to pry Diaz away from Porto. I take it there are some that will match Romero, Kulu and Betancur and said he does not know the other markets. Thank God he has abandoned Franch.
But do you ever notice the reports valid or not has the same tag line. “Also, interested are Chelsea, Arsenal”, maybe City and or Liverpool. Usually when Chelsea, Liverpool or City are linked with a desired player it does not make the rounds. They buy the player and move on. In the end Spurs (Dan Levy) are often blame as not buying those players fans read about in daily conjured up by incessant reprints under different headlines. The clicks will continue until we buy another central defender, I would take Lenglet on loan, and let the ones who are dithering about leaving their clubs alone if I were to go with direct quotes from Bastoni and Skriniar. That being said, the trend in the media linking players to Spurs are all defenders while am sure Paratici and Conte know we need a creative mid and a striker. Nunez is the only one being shout about. What does that tell you about these folks pumping out clicks sources?
The trick, if that’s how it can be described is finding players that do not cost mega millions, not every quality player will cost the earth, they are out there waiting to be found, it’s down to scouts to find them.
Of the mooted £150 million raised by Enic for “on field and off field investments”, we have to pay for Romero and if we activate Kulu’s option clause early, this will cost the club the thick end of £70 mill. This only leaves a balance of approximately £80 mill for further acquisitions. Paratici seems to me to be in his comfort zone of Juve and Italy for recruitment although to be fair, Bentancur and Kulu were up and running almost immediately, unusual for Spurs recruits and Romero looks a very good if rash player.
Gil, Gollini and Emerson were less than stellar and we have no idea about Sarr. As I keep mentioning, I will be impressed when I see a player signing for us that the best clubs wanted but he chose us. When we sign a player like de Jong, Ousamene Demblele, Dybala or Nunez for example, then I will be convinced that we are really serious about winning things. I can see that Conte wants to get his back line up to scratch but most of the existing players in these positions would not get into any other top four side and we are going to need a substantial bench to play in the CL apart from all the other domestic competitions. We still have not replaced Eriksen and found an understudy for Kane. How many seasons has this been now? How many other clubs, let alone top clubs have only one recognized CF and I hope that nobody repeats that tired old cliche that nobody wants to understudy Kane on the bench.
In short, the best players and teams generally win the PL and I think we are still a long way from that. Having said that, Conte has rightly identified the player he feels that are not up to scratch like Lo Celso, Winks and N’Dombele, to name but a few, which is at least encouraging. We just need to accept realistic offers for these players.
Good point Easty. The non-relationship buys so far are Nuno, Sarr, Gil and Emerson. Not exactly inspiring.
Even Americans. Haha, we’ll see come November.
I agree and it was a good move, but if all he can do is bring in players he knows personally, that source is going to run dry fairly quickly.
People don’t seem to mention that he was brought in to not allow debacles like Diaz and the hopeless manager search last summer. Yet these things have happened SINCE he’s been at the club. Yet no be convinced myself…
Just don’t call it tripe, I did but I think I got away with it. 😉
That on evidence so far is a concern, but I get why Paratici had to act quickly in January bringing in players he knew that could slot in straight away. The fact they had such a positive impact on the team is probably more than was expected too.
Does Paratici know the marked outside of Italy very well even?
Yes , agreed , if we have to listen to the relentless drivel by all and sundry re “new signings” , could we please have a bit more imagination .
The constant Italian based purchases we are ‘interested’ is now very predictable. There is a world of footballers to choose from , so why so blinkered ??
High class Swede , Brazilian , German, Spanish and even Americans have made their mark on Premier League , the “eye for a player” seems to have deserted us through Mr Paratici et al .
Can we please let Mr Conte reflect on what/who he needs , give him the money and let him do the deal . Simple ???
But I had it on good authority here only yesterday that I should remain patient and not believe everything I read because these deals are complex and take a while!
😛
Paratici has so far brought in three players he originally took to Juventus. Romero, Bentancur and Kulusevski. Conte probably brokered the Perisic free transfer.
You say ‘irons in the fire’ but until he gets a good deal done for a player or two he hasn’t already crossed paths with, I remain to be convinced that he’s any sort of transfer guru whatsoever. Diaz was embarrassing and his only high profile attempt at a signing outside of that and outside of Italy…
The pain of a transfer window with THFC. Is there any other club linked with so many players.If Levy has stepped back then I am happy to leave the situation to Conte and Paratici. They know what we need and mor importantly who we don’t need. If Levy is still in the mix then he will no doubt be looking to spend as little as he can of the so called £150 million on the squad and use the rest to build a bigger cheese emporium.
My sentiments exactly. If the guy doesn’t want to come don’t bother.
Think we learned in January that our MD of Football has irons in fires everywhere so press speculation is just speculation.
Seems we are getting linked with anyone who plays for Inter or Juventus. More pedictable and lazy transfer garbage…