Speaking on the Gold and Guest Talk Tottenham Podcast, Alasdair Gold has been discussing Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer policy and how Antonio Conte feels about it.
Spurs’ transfer policy has been quite clear for years. Buy unpolished young gems and turn them into superstars.
In some instances, this has worked an absolute treat. Heung-Min Son developed into one of the world’s best players after joining Spurs, Dele Alli was unreal for a few years and Cristian Romero looks to be headed in that direction.
On other occasions, this has backfired hugely with the likes of Vincent Janssen, Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso all failing to make an impact at the club after showing early promise.
Spurs aren’t really in the business of buying readymade superstars, and according to Alasdair Gold, Antonio Conte isn’t a fan of this transfer strategy that places a lot of onus on him to get the best out of these players by coaching them to become top quality.
In fact, Gold went as far as to suggest that if things don’t change, Conte may well walk away from the club.
Conte not a fan
Gold shared his view of this situation.
“You’re just trying to squeeze these coaches into your way of working and it doesn’t work. It didn’t work with Mourinho. Mourinho came from clubs where he said ‘I want that player.’ He would get that player, they would fit his system and he would do great things,” Gold said.
“Conte absolutely, the moment they were speaking to him we were saying he needs ready-made players and stars. You can’t keep acting like a club from a different model with a manager who doesn’t fit that model whatsoever. It’s amateurish, it’s bizarre. I don’t understand the thinking of the powers that be that are continuing down this road.
“The fact that they’re sticking to this transfer policy is almost admitting that it’s a temporary thing with Conte. I know Conte said in the past about being like Jurgen Klopp and staying seven years and winning trophies, it’s a lovely thing to say, but I don’t believe it.
“If he’s told ‘we’re going to crack on with young players who could be stars if you can make them.’ He will be gone. He doesn’t work in that way, I’m guessing what he’s thinking, but Conte doesn’t get the same joy from bringing through a young player, I know that’s his thinking that it’s not his job to develop young players.”
Don’t have that luxury
Conte may want Spurs to go out and sign players who are ready to make the team into Premier League contenders, but the reality is that Spurs don’t have that luxury right now.
Yes, they spent over £100m in the summer, but the reality is that this sort of money doesn’t get you very far these days.
£25m for Yves Bissouma – a player who had been battling relegation with Brighton two seasons ago, was seen as a bargain, while Richarlison, who had never kicked a ball in the Champions League, was £60m.
A readymade star who is going to get you to the next level will cost in excess of £70m these days, and Spurs just don’t have the money to make that happen on the scale Conte may want it to.
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