Antonio Conte is ready to sell some of Tottenham Hotspur’s fringe players to raise funds for the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and Nicolo Barella, the Daily Mail suggest.
Targets lined up
Conte is set to be handed funds by Tottenham are taking charge for the January transfer window, but he may need their transfer budget supplemented.
That is because the Italian is already eyeing up two new additions which could be fairly expensive.
Conte is said to have made Vlahovic and Barella two of his primary targets after taking charge.
Both of the pair have a limited time remaining on their contracts at their respective clubs, Fiorentina and Inter Milan, but that does not mean that they will come cheaply.
As a result Conte apparently is likely to have to sell to buy – although he has not decided on which players to shift on yet.
It seems that Tottenham’s squad is effectively on a trial basis right now, with Spurs’ new manager set to assess them until the new year, before deciding who to sell on.
Best in the world?
If they were to land both Vlahovic and Barella in January then it could be a much needed double swoop.
Vlahovic would provide genuine competition for Harry Kane, and give Conte the option of using two players up-front.
Barella, meanwhile, would provide Spurs with creativity from deep, which is something they have desperately lacked this season.
He has been hailed as the ‘best midfielder in the world’ by famous Italian football agent Furio Valcareggi Tuttomercatoweb and if a player of his quality was to arrive at Spurs then it would really highlight their ambition.
Conte knows Barella well, having worked with him at Inter, and a reunion in North London could potentially appeal to them both.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
