Will Tottenham Hotspur Give Antonio Conte What He Wants And Needs This Summer?

Antonio Conte was the man Tottenham Hotspur wanted to succeed Jose Mourinho all along. The North London club made their pitch to the former Chelsea and Inter boss last summer only for him to resist their overtures. Spurs turned to Nuno Espirito Santo instead, but when he lasted only a few months in the job they went back to Conte.

There’s no denying Tottenham’s appointment of Conte, a Premier
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League and Serie A-winning coach, last November was an ambitious one. It was a sign that the club under Daniel Levy wants to challenge for major honours. After drifting following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino two years ago, Spurs want to head in the right direction again.

And they have, by and large, since Conte’s arrival. Spurs were ninth in the Premier League table at the time of the Italian’s appointment. Now, they are fifth and chasing Champions League qualification. Tottenham have still struggled for prolonged consistency under their new manager, but results and performances have undoubtedly improved.

However, there remains a lot of speculation about Conte’s future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the 52-year-old himself more than once raising the possibility that he could leave the club. Most recently, Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with a move for Conte with Mauricio Pochettino expected to leave the French club this summer.

Pochettino’s potential availability this summer could present Tottenham with a dilemma. The Argentine is still a beloved figure in North London and so some Spurs fans have debated whether or not they would be in favour of Conte leaving for PSG if it meant Pochettino heading in the opposite direction.

“I think it is good that other clubs appreciate my work,” said Conte when asked about PSG’s reported interest. “But this is one thing. The truth is that I don’t like when people try to invent news, only to speak or create problems. This is not right or fair for me – or for the clubs involved. This situation makes me smile, but I think the people that want to tell something like this have to show respect for all the people that are involved in this situation and not invent fake news and tell a lot of lies.”

For Tottenham to truly get the best out of Conte, one of the best managers of the current generation, they must give him what he wants. The Italian was critical of Spurs’ activity in the January transfer window and has a track record of publicly venting frustrations over a lack of signings (see how his tenures at Chelsea and Inter ended).

Spurs delivered Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski in January with both players quickly integrated into Conte’s team, but new wing backs are required before the start of next season. Tottenham must also convinced Harry Kane that his future lies in North London and not at Manchester City or another Premier League rival.

Conte hasn’t even been at Tottenham Hotspur for a year, but the Italian is approaching a juncture in his tenure at the club and the club are approaching a juncture in their employment of their manager. If either is unsure of the current situation, this summer might provide them with an escape route.