Antonio Conte may look to bring Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic and Torino captain Andrea Belotti to Tottenham Hotspur in 2022, former Italy and Premier League ace Emanuele Giaccherini has told Calciomercato.
Conte will have been as relieved as anyone when Harry Kane rediscovered his golden touch in Friday’s World Cup qualifier, hammering home a 28-minute hat-trick during England’s 5-0 thumping of Albania.
Because, while the former Inter Milan, Chelsea and Juventus manager has made a big impact behind the scenes since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo as Spurs’ head coach, the so-called ‘new manager bounce’ appeared to have little effect on the club’s talismanic skipper.
Kane has scored just once in his past seven Tottenham games, drawing a blank in both of Conte’s first two matches at the helm.
That first-half dismantling of Albania at Wembley, then, would have drawn an almighty sigh of relief from everyone on the white half of north London.
But regardless of whether this proves a turning point in Kane’s season, Tottenham are expected to prioritise a number nine when the transfer window opens, with 17-year-old Dane Scarlett the closest thing Spurs have to another senior centre-forward.
Will Dusan Vlahovic or Andrea Belotti join Tottenham in January?
“(Conte) leaves nothing to chance. I’m happy for him because Tottenham is a great club. But it’s a challenge because there are three or four superior teams,” says Giaccherini, who played under Conte at Euro 2016.
“It’s a very stimulating challenge. He does it for his own growth but Spurs have definitely promised him something regarding the January transfer market.
“In Italy, he knows many players whom he rates highly. Some from Inter, who he had last year, but also Vlahovic or Belotti. They can be goals to focus on.
“But, at the moment, I see it as a very difficult challenge. Perhaps the most difficult of his career.”
Belotti and Vlahovic both recently turned down the chance to extend their contracts, with the former, who hit the 100 Serie A goals target this month, set to become a free agent in June. Conte is a long-time admirer, having tried to bring Belotti to Chelsea.
Vlahovic, in contrast, is tied down until 2023, although it’s believed Fiorentina will listen to offers in the region of £70 million.
According to Alfredo Pedulla, Conte has informed managing director Fabio Paratici of his admiration for Vlahovic, who recently distanced himself from a potential switch to Arsenal.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
