Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte has suggested that he wants to bring another new playmaker to the club to complement Harry Kane in attack.
Conte is keen to sign new number 10 and push Harry Kane further up the pitch. (image: Getty Images)
Conte has said that the 28-year-old “was born a striker”, and the Italian is keen for him to return to playing closer to the penalty box next season.
“Harry, he was born a striker. But he has the talent and quality to play like a number 10 with another striker in front of him,” Conte told reporters.
“But I like to have him as a striker and then eventually another number 10. Two different players with different characteristics.
” Honestly I prefer Harry as a number nine, because when he stays into the box or the edge of the box he has great quality, right, left, also with a header, he has great potential.”
“But sometimes when he goes back and creates space for Sonny [Son Heung-min], Lucas Moura and (Steven) Bergwijn, and [Dejan] Kulusevski, and also the wing-backs, it’s important to have different options, otherwise you are predictable. And in modern football your team has to be unpredictable.”
Conte’s admission that he wants a number 10 has added fuel to rumours of Maddison, with The Sun understands Tottenham are genuinely interested in signing the 25-year-old this summer.
The 25-year-old has been in impressive form for his club this season with 13 goals and nine assists in all competitions and The Foxes could be tempted to cash in on Maddison in order to invest in other areas, with two years left on his contract.