Antonio Conte has drawn up a shortlist of transfer targets for 2022 with Tottenham’s director of football Fabio Paratici, according to reports. The former Juventus pair have wasted no time in looking to the transfer market to bolster the Spurs squad – and their old stomping ground of Serie A could well provide the new players they are looking for.
Conte only touched down at Tottenham on Tuesday, but the 52-year-old Italian has already made it clear that he wants reinforcements in the upcoming transfer window.
Earlier this week Paratici batted away a question about making new signings in January – but it seems his stance has changed.
“Not at all. Not at all,” he replied when asked if he had spoken with Conte about transfers yet on Wednesday.
“Because we trust in our players, we trust a lot. So, we are focused to be better, like a club and like a team.”
However, Conte is understood to have made it clear that he expected financial backing from the club when taking the job mid-season – something he is usually reluctant to do.
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However, a transfer at the end of the season could well be on the cards, with Inter keen not to lose the Slovakia international for free the following year.
Vlahovic could be available earlier and many of Europe’s top clubs are keeping a close eye on him ahead of the January transfer window.
Although Fiorentina managed to hang onto their star striker in the summer, the club are keen to make sure they land a sizable fee for the 21-year-old.
Vlahovic is under contract until June 2023 and recently rejected the opportunity to sign a new club-record five-year contract worth £34.58million (€40m).
Tottenham are far from the only interested party, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Juventus all previously linked.
Vlahovic scored 21 goals in 37 Serie A appearances for the Viola last season and already has 10 goals in 13 appearances across league and cup this campaign.
He is reportedly considered a good replacement for Harry Kane, who ‘should leave next summer’, although he would cost ‘a lot of money’.
Kane is under contract until June 2024, but made it clear he wanted to leave the club in the summer, only for a move to Manchester City to fall through.