As the 2021/22 season is coming to an end, clubs have already started to make their summer transfer plans to strengthen their squads for next season. Tottenham Hotspur are a club to keep an eye on for the summer transfer window with plenty of big names linked with the North London club. Antonio Conte who took over from Nuno Espirito Santo mid-season has had a great start to his reign at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The North Londoners see themselves in 4th position level on points with arch-rivals Arsenal. A top 4 finish will be pivotal for the club’s future plans and the Champions League next season will help attract players to the club.
Among the various positions Antonio Conte wants to strengthen in the summer, the center-back position is a priority for the Italian. Eric Dier and Christian Romero are the defenders Conte has praised in his press conferences which indicate that the manager hasn’t been impressed by Davinson Sanchez and Joe Rodon. Japhet Tanganga has endured an injury stricken campaign and the lack of squad depth at the back is certainly a concern for the Lilywhites.
Reports in the English media state that Fabio Paratici, the head of Managing Director of Tottenham, is looking to target the Italian market for defensive reinforcements with the likes of Alessandro Bastoni and Stefan de Vrij linked with the club. According to Il Mattino, an Italian newspaper, Kalidou Koulibaly is another player reportedly on the transfer wishlist and Paratici has already contacted the player’s representatives. Koulibaly has been linked to the Premier League in the past with a move to Manchester United collapsing in 2019 after the Red Devils deemed the 90 million price tag set by Napoli very expensive.
The center-back since has been linked to many clubs during the transfer windows and according to the Italian report, he has received a number of requests with Tottenham being one of them. Antonio Conte is known to use physical and aggressive defenders as part of his 3 man defenders and the signing of Koulibaly would tick the boxes. The defender’s physique and height would suit the Premier League which is why a number of English clubs have enquired about him in the past. Napoli’s stance for any deal for their vice-captain is that “everything is closed for now”.
According to reports, the Italian club is set to wait until the end of the season to decide on Koulibaly’s future. Any deal for the defender would see Tottenham spending in the region of 50-60 million for the 30-year-old.
