Paul Merson has stated that he expects Antonio Conte to leave Tottenham Hotspur at the end of the season and possibly head back to Juventus.
The two-time Premier League winner added that Conte is an ‘elite’ coach, who wants to win trophies, and he doesn’t think that will happen at Spurs.
There have been strong rumours about Juventus wanting Conte to return to Turin, but the Italian has remained committed to Spurs, as of this moment.
Juventus suffered yet another defeat in the Champions League on Wednesday night, this time to PSG, which sees them head to the Europa League.
Can Juve afford to get rid of the under-fire Max Allegri? Will he still be in the dugout next season? One thing is for sure, former Premier League striker Thierry Henry thinks he should stay in his job.
But with Conte yet to sign a new deal, Merson was asked whether he can see the Spurs boss at the club next season and he made his feelings pretty clear, as he told Soccer Special on Sky Sports (01/11/22 at 7:10 pm).
“He’s an elite manager,” said Merson. “A top manager. These managers don’t deal with coming fourth in the league. It doesn’t rock their boat. They want to win trophies and that’s what they are all about.
“I am not sure – I see these players in the Champions League. On their day, they are a tight-knit team. They are hard to break down on their day and they have got the ammunition upfront, when Kulusevski is fit, for them front three to hurt anybody in the world of football. I don’t care who they are playing. And they can keep it solid.
“I’m not sure he will be there. I am not sure. He’s an elite manager. Juventus, they are in a rocky situation. If Juventus can get into the top four this season, and get into the Champions League, then I think he could go back.
On whether he would leave Spurs for Juve right now: “Not now, not today. But, at the end of the season, if Tottenham haven’t come in the top four, and they got out in the last-16 or last eight of the Champions League and Juventus are in the Champions League next season, then I think it’s a challenge for him to get Juventus back up to where everybody expects them to be in Serie A.
“They (Spurs) are a million miles off winning it (Premier League title) here. I think Juventus have fallen behind a lot. Behind Napoli and the two Milan teams. I think there’s a big challenge there. He wants to win trophies, Conte.”
TOTTENHAM HEAD TO KNOCKOUT STAGES OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Those were a massive three points for Spurs in Marseille because, it keeps Conte happy, but more importantly, they can fish for the bigger players in the transfer market.
Conte has constantly spoken about needing to improve the depth within the squad, and come January, he will want more investment added to his squad.
So far, dating back to the previous winter window, Daniel Levy and Joe Lewis have backed the man in their dugout.
So, surely given that there is so much belief from the top about what he is doing that he will extend his stay at the club? There have also been suggestions that Levy has opened contract talks with the £288k-a-week man.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
