Tottenham’s return to form could hardly have been timed any better, Antonio Conte’s side made it four wins in a row when they thrashed Aston Villa 4-0 on Saturday. The result has put them in pole position to secure fourth place with nearest challengers Arsenal three points adrift, however, they do have a game in hand.
If the Lilywhites do secure a place in next season’s Champions League it will make them a far more attractive proposition to potential signings this summer. And given the remarkable progress made under Conte’s management, the club will be keen not to rest on their laurels as they target success on both the domestic and European front.
Spurs already have the nucleus of a strong starting XI but Conte will want to improve quality and depth in certain areas, one of which is believed to be central midfield. The position of back-up goalkeeper is also an area of concern with Pierluigi Gollini reportedly set to return to Atalanta when his loan deal expires. Ahead of a busy summer in north London, the club have been linked with a trio of names today.
READ MORE: Bryan Gil injury update, Tanguy Ndombele criticism, Troy Parrott rocket - Tottenham loan latest
Spurs ‘interested’ in Johnstone
Tottenham are reportedly interested in signing West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, but will face competition for his signature from Manchester United. The 29-year-old’s contract with the Championship club expires in June.
Johnstone was one of only a few players to impress for the Baggies last season as they slipped out of the Premier League, and was linked with a number of top-flight clubs but remained with the West Midlands club. However, with his deal at The Hawthorns almost up, he is attracting interest once more.
According to Sky Sports, Spurs and Man United will ‘battle it out’ for his signature, and Southampton also reportedly retain an interest in Johnstone. The Lilywhites are set to strengthen in the summer in order to continue their remarkable progression under Conte, and it's believed that the Italian wants to sign another keeper to provide competition for Hugo Lloris.
Pierluigi Gollini was signed last summer on a season’s loan from Atalanta to provide cover but has only made 10 appearances, and the club are unlikely to trigger an option to buy the Italian stopper.
Tielemans targeted
Spurs are reportedly interested in signing Leicester City star Youri Tielemans, but face competition from Man United and Juventus. The Belgian midfielder is out of contract next summer and it's believed that the Foxes will cash in on the 24-year-old rather than risk losing him for free.
Tielemans’ range of passing, work rate and goals from midfield have established him as one of the Premier League’s most sought-after players, and his contract situation has only made him more desirable. According to Calciomercato, Spurs are interested in bringing him to north London and see the Belgian as the perfect partner for Rodrigo Bentancur.
It’s believed that Leicester will demand around £24.9 million for Tielemans, which would represent great value for a player with so much ability and potential. Liverpool and north London rivals Arsenal have also been linked with the Foxes star.
Spurs ‘eye’ Eriksen return
Spurs are one of a number of clubs reportedly interested in signing Brentford midfielder Christian Eriksen this summer. The 30-year-old signed a six month deal with the Bees in January and will be available on a free transfer in June.
According to 90min, Conte’s side will face competition for his signature from a host of Premier League teams including Aston Villa, Newcastle and West Ham as well as Brentford, who will want to tie him down to a longer deal. Eriksen has been in sensational form since returning to football following a heart attack he suffered playing for Denmark at the Euros last year.
And his sensational all-round displays have played a huge part in Brentford effectively being safe from relegation this season. Eriksen spent six-and-half seasons in north London before leaving for Inter Milan in 2020 and was an integral part of the exciting and dynamic team that former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino built.
The Lilywhites struggled to replace the Dane after he left, with the side often lacking the creative spark that Eriksen brought to the team. The Denmark star is not expected to command a similar wage to one he was on at Spurs, but would be pushing for significantly more than his current deal at Brentford.
