Italian outlet Inter Live claim Antonio Conte is planning an £83million double move to lure two Italy defenders in the form of Alessandro Bastoni and Giorgio Scalvini to Tottenham ahead of January – with Bastoni likely to cost £48million.
Confidence that Conte will sign a new deal ahead of January has cooled, according to The Athletic. But if anything is going to convince the Italian gaffer to remain at Spurs, it is spending big in the transfer market. January included.
Daniel Levy will know that. If the chairman wants to keep Conte, he will have to dip his hand into his club’s coffers again. The latest report claims that Conte wants Bastoni – a player Spurs were heavily linked with a few months ago.
But he is not the only defender they want. Tottenham are also keen on signing Atalanta’s Scalvini. The report from Inter Live claim that Inter and Italy defender Bastoni will cost £48million – and Inter target Scalvini has a price tag of £35m.
Conte planning £83million double move to sign Bastoni and Scalvini
Tottenham do need better options in their defence, and more of them. Ben Davies has been consistent for Spurs and remains first choice – loyal, fierce, but unremarkable. He is a solid 7/10, but rarely produces form greater than that.
If Spurs are to go from top-four candidates to title challengers, that needs to be improved. Bastoni does that. Scalvini is more of one for the future, but with the potential to far exceed Eric Dier. The 19-year-old can also play in midfield.
Whether Levy would give Conte the green light to splash more than £80million on two defenders, after spending big in the summer, remains to be seen. Recent history would say it is unlikely. But if he wants Conte to stay, he might have to.
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