Here is your Spurs digest on Monday, May 9.
Spurs 'favourites' to sign Johnstone
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly closing in on the signing of West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. The 29-year-old is set to leave the Hawthorns on a free transfer when his contract expires next month.
Antonio Conte has made no secret of his desire to strengthen his squad in the summer and with on loan stopper Pierluigi Gollini set to return to Atalanta at the end of the season another keeper will be needed in N17. According to the Mirror Johnstone has been on Spurs’ radar for some time now and with Manchester United reportedly pulling out of the race for his signature; the north Londoners are now clear favourites to sign him.
The Baggies goalie would provide cover for club captain Hugo Lloris, and would likely deputise for the Frenchman in domestic cup games as well as the occasional European fixture. Johnstone has made 167 appearances during his four season’s at West Brom and has been capped by England three times.
Spurs' last three games compared to top four rivals
Tottenham faces an important end to the season as Antonio Conte's side looks to clamber into the top-four. Spurs currently sit fifth in the Premier League and are guaranteed at least Europa League next season following Manchester United's defeat to Brighton.
But the battle for Champions League football is far from over. Arsenal are now just a point ahead of their north London rivals, though with a game in hand following their win over West Ham. Tottenham are five points off of Chelsea.
Behind Spurs sit the Red Devils and West Ham in sixth and seventh, respectively, though neither are capable of raining on Conte's parade. With it all to play for after Tottenham's draw with Liverpool, the Whites can now acquire a maximum of 71 points.
Read the full story here.
Anfield display pleases Conte
Tottenham's disciplined tactical performance at Anfield will have given Antonio Conte plenty of food for thought when it comes to what he can get out of his players next season.
Conte and Spurs are well aware of the need for strengthening his paper thin squad with quality this summer, particularly when just four injuries ensured three academy youngsters needed to take their place on the bench at Anfield.
Tottenham expect the Italian to be in charge next season, not least because he has a contract to do so but also because they are determined to build on what he has achieved so far. Spurs are now guaranteed their first top five finish since 2019 and they are hoping to go one further. It's difficult at this moment to see what better options Conte has out there than building upon the foundations he had laid in the past six months at Tottenham.
Read the full story here.
