Tottenham's transfer business conducted in the January transfer window could play a vital role in Daniel Levy keeping Antonio Conte at the club. The Spurs squad is paper thin compared to their Premier League rivals and Fabio Paratici is likely to be keen to add quality to the current crop of players.
Spurs find themselves in the middle of the race for Champions League football this season, sitting fourth in the Premier League after 14 games. However, Conte's side require additions to ensure they secure their top four finish and keep hold of the Italian.
Conte only signed an 18-month deal when he replaced Nuno Espirito Santo in November 2021, meaning he's currently set to leave the club on June 30, 2023. The Spurs boss is yet to commit his long-term future at the club and reports from The Athletic have claimed that negotiations regarding an new deal are "less optimistic" than before.
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One key criteria for keeping hold of Conte is the transfer business completed next month. Despite the arrivals of Ivan Perisic, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison and Clement Lenglet in the summer, Conte has previously hinted at requiring further additions to his team, should Spurs want to be considered a 'title contender'.
"You know very well that if you want to be competitive and if you want to be really considered a title contender, or considered a team to win a trophy, you need players with great quality," he said after the 4-3 win over Leeds in November.
"You see the example of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea and these teams are really strong. Strong squad with a great quality.
"You need patience, you need the transfer market to improve the squad, the quality of your squad. Today you have seen the difference to have Kulusevski and Richarlison rather than not."
As the Christmas period creeps upon us, work behind-the-scenes is well underway to ensure Spurs have an efficient winter window and reports from Italy have tipped Serie A pair Giorgio Scalvini and Inter's Alessandro Bastoni to make a move.
According to InterLive.it, Conte wants more players and could 'ask for not one, but two' new centre-backs. The report claims that, should Conte agree to remain in north London, the two defenders could be likely additions.
However, €95m (£83m) is the reported fee for the pair and would reduce the transfer budget supplied to Paratici and Conte. It's said that Scalvini would cost €40m (£35m) and Bastoni €55m (£48m), making them two of Spurs' top five most expensive signings.
Bastoni worked under Conte at the San Siro during the 53-year-old's time at Inter. The Italian was a mainstay in Conte's back three as I Nerazzurri lifted the Scudetto.
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