Antonio Conte has told Tottenham Hotspur that they need to invest ‘£70 or 80 million’ on players if they are to become Premier League title contenders like Arsenal and Chelsea.
Spurs started off the New Year and 2023 by suffering a home defeat to Aston Villa, with Conte telling Sky Sports after the game that better players are needed from the transfer market in order to ‘improve the quality’ of his team and be title challengers like current Premier League leaders Arsenal and eighth-placed Chelsea.
Perhaps the Italian, who won the Premier League title at Stamford Bridge, was making reference to Chelsea’s past spending that has helped them win titles because their recent summer spree hasn’t started well.
Whilst Arsenal sit at the top of the Premier League table with the biggest grin on their face, those across London were dropping points to start off the New Year.
After Unai Emery’s Aston Villa secured a 2-0 win in north London, the pressure is mounting on Graham Potter because Chelsea dropped points away at relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.
Nonetheless, Spurs fans were frustrated during and after their defeat to Villa, with Conte sending this message.
“The message (to the frustrated Tottenham fans who walked out during the Aston Villa defeat) is always the same,” said Conte. “I have never spoken about our team this season that we could be competitive to fight to win (the Premier League title).
“From the start of the season, I say that, we are creating and we are trying to build a solid foundation. If we want to become title contenders, if we want to try and win something, then you need to have a solid foundation. A solid foundation means that you need have your team and your squad 13 or 14 players strong. And then every year, put one or two players, important players, to improve the quality.
“For this reason, it means investing £60, 70 or 80 million. In this way, you improve the quality – then you become a Premier League title contender like Manchester City, like Liverpool, Chelsea, like Man United and Arsenal. They did the same. Arsenal started three or four years ago to this.”
CONTE ISN’T THE PROBLEM AT SPURS
The former Juventus coach has had a trophy-laden career so far and he has walked into a dressing room at Tottenham that just doesn’t have any winners.
Foundations need to be built in order to take those forward steps. Arsenal, through their struggles of Arteta who didn’t have the reputation when he first started off, are doing just that with their manager.
And now they are being rewarded for it.
Those in the Hotspur Way boardroom need to back Conte again in January and in the summer so they can step forward. The big issue on top of that is Conte hasn’t signed a new deal yet.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
