Antonio Conte has opened up on his ‘honest’ meeting with Daniel Levy regarding Tottenham’s plans in the January transfer window.
The north London side are assessing transfer targets as Conte looks to shape the squad in his own image, having inherited his current set of players following his appointment as head coach in November.
Spurs remain unbeaten in eight league fixtures since Conte’s arrival and are in pursuit of a top-four finish and Champions League qualification, with the 52-year-old admitting he has now evaluated his squad as the club look to move forward.
Dele Alli, Tanguy Ndombele and Matt Doherty have been linked with exits this month and Conte says his conversation with Levy was both ‘honest’ and productive.
“When you have the possibility to speak to the owner [Levy] and the sporting director … with Paratici I have the possibility to speak every day … but to speak with our owner, it was important,” Conte said, as per Sky Sports. “Also because I like to be honest and always tell the truth. You know that I don’t like to tell a good lie to keep a good relationship or show myself to be very soft or too polite. It was good to tell the truth and it was a good meeting.
“I’d asked the club for time to make my evaluation. They asked me after one month to have a meeting but I said: ‘No. I prefer to have another month to make the right evaluation.’ To show me who deserves to stay here. Now the situation is very clear and I was satisfied to have this conversation with the owner.
“Now I have only one way – it’s on the pitch and the training sessions every day … to improve the level of my players. Then, the club know the situation and, if they want to help me another way, I appreciate it.”
Conte also discussed Hugo Lloris’ future, with the club captain out of contract at the end of the current season. Discussions are continuing between the France international and Spurs over a new deal and Conte is hopeful an agreement can be reached for the 35-year-old to extend his stay.
“I think that they have started to talk,” Conte said. “You know very well what I think about Hugo. He’s an important player and I’m sure that they are going to find a solution for him to continue to play with Tottenham. For sure I am very confident about this situation to be positive.”
