Tottenham Hotspur will back head coach Antonio Conte with funds in the January transfer window, according to a report.
The 53-year-old oversaw a plethora of new arrivals in his first summer window at the club, as Richarlison, Djed Spence, Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster and Yves Bissouma all joined on permanent deals.
Clement Lenglet was also acquired on a season-long loan from Barcelona, while Destiny Udogie has joined permanently from Udinese, where he currently remains on loan.
Tottenham have risen to third place in the Premier League table during a strong start to the season, but recent injuries have tested the depth of Conte's playing squad.
Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski, Cristian Romero and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg all missed the weekend's 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United - Spurs' second loss on the bounce after also going down to Manchester United.
© Reuters
Conte has admitted that his side still need a few more transfer windows to be able to compete for the Premier League title, and according to the Evening Standard, he will receive financial support in January.
However, the report also adds that the Italian is currently satisfied with the size of his squad, and he has told the powers-that-be as such, so it remains to be seen what January deals - if any - will be struck.
Instead, Tottenham's winter business could be focused on outgoings, and the quartet of Spence, Bryan Gil, Pape Sarr and Japhet Tanganga could all be allowed to depart.
Tanganga and Gil were both tipped to leave the club over the summer but remained on the books, with Tottenham failing to find suitable replacements for the out-of-favour pair.
The pair have only played 34 minutes altogether this season and could therefore be on the move in January, with Tottenham needing to sell before they can buy over the winter.
© Reuters
Meanwhile, clubs in Italy are understood to be keeping tabs on former Metz midfielder Sarr, although Spence is still hoping to force his way into Conte's plans on a regular basis.
In terms of incomings, Tottenham failed in their efforts to prise Alessandro Bastoni away from Inter Milan over the summer, but the report claims that the Lilywhites retain an interest in the Italian.
Nerazzurri teammates Stefan de Vrij and Milan Skriniar have both been tipped to reunite with Conte as well, with both centre-backs now in the final year of their contracts.
Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha are also thought to be on the radar of Tottenham chiefs, while a move for Naby Keita could be in the works if the Liverpool man runs down his deal with the Reds.
Conte himself is out of contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer of 2023, but the club reportedly plan to open contract talks with the Italian next month.
Ben Knapton
