Report: Paratici eyeing Spurs move for 'sensational' £75m man; Pep called him 'quality'

Tottenham Hotspur, and by extension their transfer chief Fabio Paratici, are eyeing a move for Southampton star James Ward-Prowse.

After the north Londoners announced a £150 million equity increase, more good news followed as manager Antonio Conte decided to stay at Spurs for the 2022/2023 Premier League season.

The Italian and Paratici have now got to work on identifying targets with The Telegraph reporting that they held a transfer meeting in Turin on Friday.

Spurs are apparently willing to invest the bulk of the £150m in Conte’s squad as they now seek to gift their elite manager full backing over what should be a promising summer.

According to The Athletic, Saints star Ward-Prowse is a target for manager Conte, sporting director Paratici and Spurs.

They claim the Lilywhites ‘retain a long-standing interest’ in the 27-year-old, but due to the new long term contract he signed last summer, it would be a seriously expensive deal to pull off.

While signing Ward-Prowse is unlikely, Tottenham’s interest could certainly signal their intent to seriously support Conte and match his unwavering ambition.

The Englishman is exactly the kind of calibre player Spurs should be going for this summer, with former striker Darren Bent calling him ‘sensational’ in an interview with talkSPORT (allfootball).

Ward-Prowse’s stats go some way to backing Bent’s theory given he finished last season as Southampton’s highest-rated player, top goal-scorer and best creator in terms of key passes per 90 in the final third (WhoScored).

Called a ‘quality‘ player by Man City boss Pep Guardiola also, it’s hardly surprising his move would be a marquee one and reports suggest he could cost around £75 million.

In other news: Meeting held: Tottenham enter