Not many teams will fancy coming up against Antonio Conte's Tottenham side next season with the club set to splash the cash this summer. Making huge strides in the remaining months of the 2021/22 campaign to clinch a Champions League place, Spurs could be set to go up a level or two as the head coach and Fabio Paratici look to make some key changes to the playing squad.
Earlier this week it was announced that Spurs' owners ENIC raised the funds to pump £150m into the club with the bulk of that set to go towards Conte's transfer requirements, as well as any money raised through potential player sales before the summer deadline. The news has left all connected with Tottenham extremely excited in their quest to win major trophies on a consistent basis.
One player who is reportedly on the verge of a move to north London is Inter Milan's Ivan Perisic. Set to leave the San Siro on a free transfer with his contract expiring, the Croatia international would give the Lilywhites plenty of experience in the left wing-back berth if he does sign on the dotted line.
READ MORE: The key difference Fabio Paratici can make this summer to Tottenham's plans to keep Conte happy
A player Conte knows incredibly well from their time together at Inter Milan, the 33-year-old could be a huge hit for Tottenham after registering ten goals and nine assists in all competitions this term. So how exactly could Tottenham line up come the opening day in August with Perisic in the team? football.london takes a look.
Although there looks set to be a bit of tinkering in the goalkeeping department with Southampton's Fraser Forster set to come in and replace Pierluigi Gollini, Hugo Lloris will, as ever, start between the sticks for the Lilywhites. There could be quite a bit of change ahead of the Frenchman come the start of the new season with Conte looking to strengthen in defence, however.
A new left-sided centre-back is a must, with Inter Milan's Alessandro Bastoni, someone Conte knows well from his time at Inter Milan, linked with a big-money move to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Italian international, providing he signs, would then start alongside Eric Dier and Cristian Romero at the back.
The wing-backs are a key component in Conte's system and he will be looking to help take the team to the next level with some quality additions on either flank. Perisic will come in and take up the role on the left, with Middlesbrough's Djed Spence, who has made a huge impression in the Championship this term on loan at Nottingham Forest, possibly the man to flourish there in Conte's Tottenham setup.
Rodrigo Bentancur is a certain starter in one of the two midfield berths after excelling there since his move from Juventus in January. However, it remains to be seen who his midfield partner will be in the months ahead as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg finished the season really well and Oliver Skipp will be back to fitness come next campaign.
Conte clearly rates the latter incredibly highly, which was clear for all to see with his comments in press conferences about getting the England U21 international fully fit in time for the remainder of 2021/22. Skipp may nudge ahead of Hojbjerg in the pecking order, although Spurs could of course look to bring in a new midfielder to partner Bentancur with the money in their transfer warchest, with Leicester City's Youri Tielemans linked.
The Lilywhites need to look at strengthening in attack this summer but any new additions will find it incredibly hard to break up the attacking trio of Dejan Kulusevski, Harry Kane and Son Heung-min. All three have formed such a good understanding in a short space of time and they could possibly hit a new level altogether next season to strike fear into their opponents.
Possible Tottenham XI in 2022/23: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Bastoni; Spence, Bentancur, Tielemans, Perisic; Kulusevski, Kane, Son
