Fabio Paratici has admitted that he and Antonio Conte are in constant daily discussions about how to improve the Tottenham Hotspur squad.
Spurs currently sit fourth in the Premier League table heading into the final eight games of the campaign. However, Conte has stated that he needs to be fighting for more than a top four spot next season in order to sate his desire as a manager. That leaves Paratici, with the financial green light required from chairman Daniel Levy, with the job to rebuild Tottenham to a degree that matches the ambition of the head coach, who has made it very clear that he will leave a club if his ambition is not reciprocated by the powers-that-be.
"It's not just my job, the job of my structure, so the scouting department and speaking with the staff and Antonio every day about what we can do to improve this team. It's not just about players but also staff maybe, the best pitches maybe, the best infrastructure," said Paratici during the international break. "So it's normal that when we speak about the summer we speak about recruitment, but we work every day and we speak all the time about what we can do to be better, so we follow like this. We continue to work in this way, in this direction."
READ MORE: What Tottenham's non-homegrown numbers mean for Conte and Paratici's summer transfer business
Let's a take a look at each area of Conte's squad and see what might happen in every department.
Goalkeepers
The number one spot is stable here with Hugo Lloris finally penning that new deal until the summer of 2024 so Spurs will not need to spend big in this department during the next window. However, that new Lloris deal does cast doubt on the future of Pierluigi Gollini, who was brought in by Paratici as the Frenchman's successor on loan from Atalanta with an option to buy.
The question is whether Spurs or Gollini now want to make that deal permanent. The 27-year-old has become a popular member of the squad but he's not playing matches. He's made just 10 appearances in the cup competitions and has not been seen in the Premier League.
The Italian is unlikely to want another season as a bit-part player and likewise Tottenham might decide that they could save some money for another area of the squad this summer by getting a free or cheap experienced back-up keeper in the Joe Hart mould to tide them over for the next season or perhaps two, depending on Lloris' form. Then Brandon Austin fresh from his new contract, and perhaps Alfie Whiteman when he returns in November from Degerfors, can learn and progress in the third goalkeeper slot.
Tottenham are favourites to sign Sam Johnstone this summer, too. The 29-year-old West Brom goalkeeper is a free agent in the summer, with his contract with the Midlands side expiring and his homegrown status is something that appeals to Spurs and there is a belief that the England international can help push Lloris and potentially succeed the 35-year-old in the long-term.
Wing-backs
This department's activity could depend on departures. On the left, Sergio Reguilon and Ryan Sessegnon are a strong pairing for the present and future and Conte has stated that he believes Sessegnon could go on to big things for Spurs and England if he can stay fit. With Reguilon though, Real Madrid have the option this summer, for the last time, to buy the Spaniard back and if they did decide to and the 25-year-old agreed to the move, it would be taken out of Tottenham's hands.
If that were to happen or Spurs decided to sell Reguilon to another club then Paratici would have to replace him, otherwise this is an area Conte has good options in. On the other side, the future is more clouded. Six months ago and the expectation would have been that Matt Doherty would leave the club and another right wing-back would be brought in to compete with Emerson Royal.
However, in recent months, Doherty has improved back in his natural position and instead Emerson has struggled to adjust to the attacking requirements of being a wing-back rather than a right-back. The choice now for Spurs is whether they look to move Doherty on, as they attempted last summer, and try to improve the younger Emerson, or they cash in quickly on Emerson after just a year because he will have retained his value and bring in someone to compete with the experienced and more settled Doherty.
There are plenty of right wing-backs out there that fit the Tottenham profile, such as Torino's 21-year-old Stephane Singo who would complement the experience of Doherty, while Conte might well be keeping an eye on his former Inter defender Achraf Hakimi's happiness at PSG, although he would be a costly addition if he became available with plenty of competition for his signature from the game's top clubs.
There is also 21-year-old Djed Spence, who football.london understands Paratici has watched in person this season, and the London-born wing-back is set to be the target for a number of Premier League clubs this summer after an impressive season at Nottingham Forest, on loan from Middlesbrough. Tariq Lamptey would fit Tottenham's system perfectly, but, like Hakimi, the Brighton defender's price tag with a contract until 2025 could be a big one this summer.
Centre-backs
Tottenham pushed plans to sign a new left-sided centre-back from January until this summer so that will be one area Paratici will be looking to sort, while the club also makes Cristian Romero's loan deal a permanent one. The next issue is that Joe Rodon is expected to look to move on for regular football next season, whether on loan or permanently.
If the Welshman does head off then Conte will have to decide whether he has enough defensive bodies with the new left-sided arrival. On paper if Rodon were to leave, Spurs would have Eric Dier, Romero, Ben Davies, Davinson Sanchez, Japhet Tanganga and the new signing. That's six players for three spots, which is what Conte wants but the question mark is perhaps which of those provides a proper back-up to Dier in the centre, unless the new left-sided arrival can do both.
This is perhaps a position where Tottenham breaking away from their normal profile might pay dividends. For example, his former Inter centre-back 30-year-old Stefan de Vrij could be available for a good price in the summer as he will have just one year left on his contract in Milan. Although right-footed, the versatile Dutchman can play on either side of a back three and often played on the left of one for Conte last season as Inter swept to the title.
Central midfield
Again this is another area that could be impacted by a departure. Right now, having Rodrigo Bentancur, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp and Harry Winks provides plenty of competition in the centre of the pitch. However, Winks appears to be fourth choice when everyone is fit and he could well look to move on this summer in search of regular minutes.
That would open up the spot for a new central midfielder. This is a role in which Paratici could look for either a more experienced player or a young but ready to start player like 24-year-old Bentancur was. Franck Kessie, who Paratici admires, looks to be off the table with a move to Barcelona mooted as being already agreed.
Paratici is a big fan of 23-year-old USA international Weston McKennie, who he took to Juventus. football.london understands Spurs' managing director of football held talks in January with the players' representatives about a potential move in that window but it was deemed too difficult. It's likely the Italian will check again on the situation of the versatile Texan, who has been a regular starter this season until a recent metatarsal injury and can play either as a box to box midfielder, a defensive one or on the right or left of midfield.
Tottenham will also have returning players and one newish arrival. Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso's futures will have to be resolved in the summer after their respective loans at Lyon and Villarreal end and if Conte is still in charge they appear unlikely to be in his plans. The money from permanent departures as well as the foreign player space in the squad - mainly for European competition - could be helpful.
There is also Pape Matar Sarr, who was signed last summer and then sent on a season-long loan back to Metz. Conte will have to decide whether the 19-year-old Senegal international is ready to be thrown into a Premier League midfield yet after a tough season in a struggling Metz side.
Attacking midfield
Tottenham have a few options here in Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski, Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn, meaning two options for either side and all four able to play on either wing. Kulusevski is proving to be a playmaker up front but the club could do with another creative passing player able to play centrally if required or out wide.
That need will only be increased if Bergwijn looks to move on this summer for more regular football with Ajax desperate to bring him back to the Netherlands. The Premier League clubs' decision to have nine substitutes on the bench in the competition next season and the ability to make five substitutions will ensure Spurs need to keep a deeper squad.
It does also mean there is the potential for more minutes for players but whether that will be enough for some is another thing. There is also the return of Bryan Gil to contemplate. The 21-year-old Spaniard is a big talent, as he has been proving on loan at Valencia, but Conte has made it clear what he thinks about the winger's suitability for the Premier League.
It's down to Gil to bulk up a bit and convince him otherwise or it could be a very quick turnaround in clubs for the gifted young Spain international. In terms of incoming attacking midfielders, Spurs held talks with Jesse Lingard's representatives in January about a potential summer move when he will be available as a free agent. There will be plenty of competition though for the 29-year-old, with some suggestions that he is keen on a move abroad.
At the other end of the age scale, Tottenham have also watched 20-year-old Nottingham Forest's Brennan Johnson, who has 12 goals and five assists for the Championship outfit and the Wales international has also been playing up front in recent months for them. Spurs were also one of the many clubs keeping tabs on Sampdoria's 21-year-old Dane Mikkel Damsgaard before his five-month absence with what his agent Jens Orgaard told Italian media was "a very aggressive form of arthritis" that has now finally been remedied by a newly-designed therapy.
Paratici will cast his net wide in his search for more attacking quality for the midfield, particularly with his penchant for loans with options to buy. Spurs are likely to make Kulusevski's loan move permanent this summer, along with Romero, although the club have five years in which to pay the full amount for the Swede once the permanent deal kicks in.
Striker
Tottenham need to finally sign a striker to provide support and cover for Harry Kane, as well as keeping the England captain. Conte has made it clear publicly that he sees it as the one area in his squad that has not got a second player for the role. The question for Paratici will be whether he tries to convince a big name to come to Tottenham which would require Conte to change his system to play more often with two up front.
That could come in the form of a player such as Paulo Dybala, who is available on a free transfer this summer. However, the 28-year-old's injury record and games missed in the past two years has not been great and Paratici will know whether he can handle the demands and work required in Conte's system.
Another Serie A player, who has their fair share of injury problems but is available on a free transfer, is Torino captain Andrea Belotti. Also 28, a muscle-injury has restricted the striker to just 16 appearances with four goals this campaign, although two of those strikes have come in his last six games since returning to the team.
Last season he hit 13 goals and laid on seven assists and the previous campaign his 22 goals with only this season proving to be an injury-hit one for the Italy international. Tottenham could also consider another move for Lautaro Martinez, who they attempted to sign last summer from Inter Milan although the 24-year-old has signed a new deal in 2026 since then to keep his price tag high.
The alternative for Paratici to a big name free or expensive signing is to bring in an experienced back-up striker like Spurs had previously with Fernando Llorente, or a younger forward who will look to make the most of any opportunities they get. The solution with the latter could be someone who can also play out wide. Johnson at Forest is a good example as is the talented 21-year-old Belgian Charles de Ketelaere, who has bagged 17 goals and nine assists for Club Brugge this campaign and is on the radar of plenty of Europe's top clubs, with Leicester strongly linked.
Tottenham also have their own young talent in 18-year-old Dane Scarlett, who Conte - along with many inside the club - has very high hopes for, the Italian saying this month that the England U19 forward has a "brilliant future" ahead of him. There is also Troy Parrott and Kion Etete - both 20 - who have enjoyed impressive loan spells this season with big leaps in development shown. All three players will likely get a chance in pre-season to show Conte what stage they are at in their process.
