Tim Sherwood has claimed that Antonio Conte doesn’t want Manchester United midfielder, Christian Eriksen, at Tottenham Hotspur, nor would he want to add Wilfried Zaha or Youri Tielemans.
Tottenham have been crying out for some creative spark this season, with Eriksen becoming a free transfer in the summer, Spurs opted against bringing him on board.
But Sherwood added, with Crystal Palace flyer Zaha and Leicester’s technician Tielemans, set to be available for nothing as well in 2023, they too wouldn’t also be welcomed into Conte’s system.
The Italian likes to play a two-man midfield, with five at the back and it’s his wing-backs who push forward and help provide the attacking threat with the front three.
Usually, the two men in the midfield are defensive-minded, like Rodrigo Bentancur or Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, even if Spurs fans would like to see a Tielemans or Eriksen type of player in there.
Nonetheless, when discussing the type of business the north London outfit could conduct, this is what Sherwood had to say, as he told Premier League Productions (07/11/22 at 2:55 pm).
“Isn’t that everywhere he goes?” sarcastically asked Sherwood on Conte wanting more in the transfer market.
The former Tottenham boss is then told that Spurs need a Youri Tielemans, a Wilfried Zaha or a Christian Eriksen in his squad, to which he responded.
“You think they need that (about Tottenham needing a creative player),” Sherwood added. “But the manager doesn’t want that. He had the opportunity to take Christian Eriksen back there. He had him at Inter Milan. Eriksen started 13 times. He doesn’t want creativity.
“Some of the greatest players we have ever seen at Tottenham are Glenn Hoddle and Paul Gascoigne. They can’t play for Antonio Conte. He doesn’t want that type of player. It’s not what he is looking for. “
JANUARY TRANSFER WINDOW KEY
Tottenham have started to stumble in the Premier League of late, losing to the so-called better sides around them, most notably against Liverpool at the weekend.
Even when they were winning, Conte was crying for added depth and quality, so he will be sending out even more signals now.
This means, just like the past two transfer windows, he will want backing during the winter transfer window in order to improve the squad.
But, with the Italian’s contract at Hotspur Way coming to an end, will he be backed again with such power? Perhaps only if he signs a new deal.
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