Antonio Conte questioned over "strange" Ivan Perisic transfer by Tottenham great

Former Tottenham and England playmaker Chris Waddle has questioned Antonio Conte’s decision to sign Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan this summer.

Spurs completed their first signing of the summer window by securing versatile forward Perisic from Inter on a free transfer. The experienced Croatia international has won league titles with Inter, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, and reached the final of the 2018 World Cup with Croatia.

The decision to sign the 33-year-old, who played under Conte at the San Siro, has left Waddle confused. The 62-cap Three Lions international believes that Spurs need to prioritise a new centre-back and that Perisic does not have the fitness or stamina required to play regularly in the Premier League.

"Ivan Perisic is a strange signing for Spurs,"Waddle told BoyleSports Premier League. "They need to sign another centre-back, while [ Newcastle forward] Allan Saint-Maximin would annoy Antonio Conte. Ivan Perisic is a strange signing because he's not the most physical player, doesn't have the best stamina, and he's joining a league where you do need a pair of legs.

"He's a free transfer, and it's a little bit against Tottenham's policies to sign someone like Perisic, but clearly Conte has got his way there, and there will probably be two or three more additions. They need to get another centre-back. I know they've got Joe Rodon, who plays really well for Wales, but he can't seem to get a look in."

Waddle continued: "They're linked with Allan Saint-Maximin, and the Spurs fans would be very excited to get him. But I think he'd be a very frustrating player for Antonio Conte, and he needs to be consistent and provide more of an end product if he wants to be a starter for Spurs every week."

Gal