Tottenham Hotspur head coach Antonio Conte has held talks with the club’s hierarchy over January transfers.
Conte held a meeting with Spurs chairman Levy and managing director Paratici after recently completing his “assessment” of the club’s playing squad.
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When you have the possibility to speak to the owner and the sporting director, it was important,”
Conte said ahead of the second leg of Spurs’ Carabao Cup semi-final tie against Chelsea.
“I like to be honest and always tell the truth. You know that I don’t like to tell a good lie to keep a good relationship or show myself to be very soft or too polite.
“It was good to tell the truth and it was a good meeting.”
“It was a good meeting and I told them my thoughts after two months at Tottenham. (But) the decisions are for the club, not for me. The last word is always with the club.
”I spoke with the club and I gave my thoughts about the situation and this is the most important thing,” Conte added.
“Then, the club has to decide the best way to go. I do not have expectations — I am a coach and I know that we have to solve many problems.
“For me, in this moment, the best possible way (forward) is to get the best from my players and to improve the squad. In this moment, this is the only way I can improve the situation. To improve the squad.
“Then, the club knows very well our situation and it has to take the best decision.”
Conte said at the end of December that he hoped to see Tottenham strengthen in the January transfer market and the Italian has said he enjoyed a “good meeting” with his superiors and the “last word” isn’t with him.
Who is Conte after?
Tottenham’s recent Carabao Cup first-leg semi-final defeat to Chelsea may have been the indicator Conte needed to see the gulf in class between his current side and his former club, the current European champions.
Antonio Conte during the Carabao Cup Semi Final First Leg match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge (Getty Images)
The January transfer window presents his first opportunity to make some changes, with a number of players reportedly at risk of being sold.
Dele Alli, Steven Bergwijn, Matt Doherty and Tanguy Ndombele are among several first-team players linked with moves away from the north London club.
It is understood that Conte wants a new centre-back, a midfielder, a right-sided player and another striker.
Given the tight nature of the January transfer window, he may struggle to have the resources and time to make all of these changes. For now, the Italian will have to prioritise.
He looks keen to bring in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Adama Traore , who can play at right wing-back or right wing and has blistering pace, which could see Tottenham’s transition from defence into attack become more of an asset than it is now.
In addition to Adama Traore, Conte wants to raid former club Inter by bringing in centre-back Stefan de Vrij.
The Dutch centre-back had a good relationship with the Italian coach at the Nerazzurri, but Levy would take some persuading to bring in a player aged 30, as it goes against his usual player profile for potential signings.
Keeping Lloris
Another player that Conte rates highly is club captain and 2018 World Cup winner Hugo Lloris.
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The France No1 has maintained his consistency this season despite his contract status and Antonio Conte has declared he wants the 35 year-old to stay.
The French goalkeeper’s contract is up at Tottenham this summer and it’s expected Spurs and Lloris will agree a new 12 month deal in the coming week.
Spurs entertain Chelsea in north London in the second leg of Carabao Cup semi-final tie on Wednesday, before hosting Arsenal in north London derby in the Premier League on Sunday.