Antonio Conte believes that "important prospect" Dejan Kulusevski has already improved during his short time at Tottenham Hotspur. The 21-year-old Sweden international signed on loan for Spurs on the January transfer window deadline day from Juventus, alongside Rodrigo Bentancur.
Both players have quickly adapted to north London and the English game, but it is Kulusevski who has really caught the eye with four assists and two goals in his first six Premier League starts. The Swede is also looking like a bargain buy for Spurs as they will pay Juventus a £8.3m loan fee - £2.5m for the remainder of this season and £5.8m for the 2022/23 campaign - and there is an obligation to buy him for £29.2m if sporting criteria are met, believed to be making 15 starts for the club - which could happen this season - or Champions League qualification.
Even if those objectives are not achieved, Spurs can sign him for that same amount this summer or for what is understood to be an extra £4.2m next summer. Conte believes that Spurs have a top class young player on their hands and one that has already come on leaps and bounds in just six weeks.
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"Honestly, we are talking about an important prospect, because he is very young, only 21-years-old and despite his young age he has good experience with the national team," he said. "Also to play with Juventus for one year and a half, you understand what it means to live with pressure, with that pressure.
"We are talking about an important prospect. Probably he could explode in the future. Also because I can see the intensity, the will and the desire to play. As everyday in training sessions he is a type of player who has it in his mind the target to become a top player in his career and as his manager I try to help him to improve and believe.
"For sure is he an important prospect for the present and for the future. He has to continue to work in this way because he has in one month and a half improved a lot physically, tactically and also in his mentality."
This Sunday afternoon, Conte, Kulusevski and Tottenham will welcome London rivals West Ham in a big derby battle in the chase for fourth spot. However, Spurs will have to break their win-loss-win-loss record, which has been present for most of 2022, if they are to succeed against David Moyes' men.
"It’s important to have continuity and be a stable team. I always said this from my first day at Tottenham. In the past to have these types of situations, up and down, up and down so for sure we have to improve but the players are the first to understand that we are to improve," he said.
"But honestly, in the last period I am seeing a lot of improvement of my team, in many aspects. Technically and tactically and in their mentality. This team is much stronger than before.
"This makes me very happy but I hope it is every game and we go step by step to confirm my first impression. They’re working very hard and there’s a lot of improvements."
