Just when you thought Antonio Conte's trolley dash for the summer was complete, he's setting off on a second lap of his supermarket sweep.
After six new signings costing around £100 million, Conte still has £50m change left in the petty cash tin – and he coulld spend most of it on Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. According to Italian media outlet Calciomercatoweb, Conte is a big fan of the Serbian international and Spurs are lining up a £38m offer, rising to £50.7m with add-ons, for the 27-year-old.
Manchester United have been tracking the 6ft 2in powerhouse, whose contract at Lazio has two years left to run, but Milinkovic-Savic is believed to prefer Tottenham – who can offer Champions League football this season – if he is allowed to join an English club. Spurs would be prepared to offer a salary up to £5.2 million (£100,000-a-week).
Conte's interest in Milinkovic-Savic does NOT mean he has ended his pursuit of Roma's attacking midfielder Nikolo Zaniolo, who remains high on sporting director Fabio Paratici's list of targets.
Ndombele on his way to Italy
One player about to make the reverse journey from north London to Italy is £53.8 million flop Tanguy Ndombele. The French midfielder's three years at Tottenham has been a tale of a light that flickered without bursting into flame, and he spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon.
Now well-connected Italian transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reports that Napoli have reached agreement with Spurs over a season-long loan with an option to make the move permanent. Napoli are keen to make it happen this week because they are resigned to losing Fabian Ruiz to Paris Saint-Germain.
And Napoli sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli was in Paris at the weekend, discussing personal terms with Ndombélé’s representatives, although wages could prove a stumbling block. Ndombele is on £10m a year at Tottenham and the Serie A club want Spurs to shoulder the lion's share of his salary while he is on loan.
Garner under consideration
Another midfielder under consideration at Tottenham is England Under-21 midfielder James Garner, who can leave Manchester United for a reported £14 million this summer. Garner starred on loan at Nottingham Forest last season, helping the Tricky Trees to win promotion via the play-offs, and despite United's horrendous start under Erik ten Hag, he will be allowed to quit Old Trafford if suitors match the Red Devils. Valuation.
Forest are interested in a reunion with Garner at the City Ground, but The Athletic claim Tottenham are among several other Premier League clubs – including Everton, Southampton and Leeds – who have scouted him.
Udogie's destiny
As widely reported, Conte expects to wrap up his seventh signing in this transfer window after Udinese left wing-back Destiny Udogie flew into London for a medical ahead of completing his £17 million move. Udogie, 19, is due to sign a five-year contract before returning to the Italian club on loan for this season.
