Spurs must axe "horrendous" flop and £27m-rated "liability", Conte would be buzzing - opinion

Antonio Conte could see his transfer budget bolstered by a number of key departures at Tottenham Hotspur this summer…

According to The Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick, the Italian head coach has hinted that, in order to commit to the club for another season, he needs assurances they can build a squad capable of challenging at the top of the Premier League.

New signings will be crucial but the Lilywhites are by no means a financial heavyweight, at least not in the same bracket as Manchester City or Newcastle United.

As such, as many as ten players could be free to leave the club should a suitable offer come in for them. Of these names, both summer arrival Emerson Royal and one-time club-record signing Davinson Sanchez feature.

Both should be offloaded by the club this summer.

Emerson’s struggles since his £26m move from Barcelona are perhaps most evident by the fact that Conte tried to sign a new right wing-back during the January transfer window, less than six months after the Brazilian’s arrival. Jose Mourinho flop Matt Doherty had even begun to usurp him in the pecking order prior to his injury.

Over the course of the campaign, many supporters have been left frustrated by Emerson’s displays, with some describing him as a “liability“, whilst former Lilywhites centre-back Jonathan Woodgate once dubbed the 23-year-old “horrendous“.

Indeed, the Irishman has managed a better WhoScored rating and is averaging a better passing accuracy, more shots, more key passes and fewer fouls than the Brazilian this term.

It certainly seems like £26m wasted thus far.

Meanwhile, Sanchez has barely had a look-in under the Italian head coach, despite a change to a three-at-the-back system. The left-footed Ben Davies, a full-back by trade,