Antonio Conte is overseeing a transfer window which shows Tottenham really mean business.
Tottenham boss Conte has got his sights set on making a proper title challenge this season which has been his target since the day he walked in the door. This is the manager who is not satisfied with just a Champions League place because he wants to compete, as he says, for “the major trophies.”
They are now on the brink of completing their fourth and fifth major signings of the summer with a deal with Everton for Richarlison completed and Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet set to arrive on loan.
It is Conte’s ambition which explains why Tottenham are doing a £60m deal for Everton’s Brazil forward Richarlison even though they already have an outstanding front three. Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Dejan Kulusevski formed a terrific three-pronged attack in the second half of last season and you could easily just accept that was a department which did not need strengthening. But Tottenham have recruited the vastly experienced Ivan Perisic who is a top quality, clever and proven player who can not just provide back-up but also competition.
And now Richarlison arrives from Everton for big money as a player who can play through the middle, off the wing or as a support striker. Richarlison has established himself in the Brazil squad, showed last season his quality when he helped keep Everton in the Premier League and was determined to better himself with a move to a Champions League club. He will know that his place is far from guaranteed, there is big competition at White Hart Lane but that suits both parties because Richarlison is at his best when he is motivated while Tottenham need strength in depth.
Tottenham’s Achilles heel in recent seasons is an over reliance in Kane and Son. Last season Son shared the Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah while Kane is breaking goals records for club and country. But if either of them are missing, they have lacked the reinforcements and their results often drop away and can be the undoing of the whole season. Now they have genuine options all over the squad and also a depth which is clearly designed to push Tottenham from top four contenders to having title aspirations.
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The defence is being reinforced with the expected arrival of 27-year-old France international to strengthen the back line and add some more quality. It would be a big leap from squeezing into fourth place to catching Manchester City and Liverpool. But Conte always aims high and is recruiting in the areas he feels Tottenham need - with the full support and backing of Daniel Levy. They beat competition from Chelsea to sign Perisic and the £30m deal for Yves Bissouma looks good business as he was outstanding for Brighton, a real box-to-box midfielder with energy and versatility to get forward but also shield the defence.
Tottenham are also in pole position for Middlesbrough’s attacking full-back Djed Spence as the right back slot was a troublesome position last season. Back-up keeper Fraser Forster has also arrived and that looks good business because, on his day, he can be formidable. When you build on the foundations already in place, plus Conte’s infectious desire and will to win, Tottenham suddenly look a force to be reckoned with.
They found a consistency in the run-in which pushed them up the table, they drew at Liverpool and won at Manchester City (they also held Liverpool at White Hart Lane and beat City on the opening day of last season) which shows they are capable of big results. But now Conte wants to build a squad and instil a mentality which will push them to new levels of consistency and make them a serious team and a force to be reckoned with this season. Richarlison’s impending arrival only serves to underline that statement of intent.
