Spurs transfer news: Antonio Conte 'not a total fan' of £25.7m star, wants summer upgrade

Journalist Pete O’Rourke believes that Antonio Conte wants to add a right wing-back to his Tottenham squad this summer.

It emerged as a priority position for the Spurs boss in January, although he failed in his attempts to bring Adama Traore to North London.

Conte’s need to improve his right-side was highlighted once again in Spurs’ 3-2 loss to Southampton on Wednesday night.

Heung Min Son had cancelled out Armando Broja’s equaliser following Jan Bednarek’s own goal which gave Tottenham the lead, but Saints struck twice in three minutes late on to claim a surprise victory.

Alarmingly for Conte, the second and third goals, scored by Mohamed Elyounoussi and Che Adams, came down Emerson Royal’s side, with both players beating the Brazil international to the ball before heading home.

Royal, who signed from Barcelona for £25.7m last summer, turned in an improved performance against Brighton on Saturday, which included him having a huge hand in Spurs’ second goal, but he struggled throughout the defeat to Southampton.

According to WhoScored, only Harry Winks, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Davinson Sanchez performed worse in the game. His pass completion percentage was the third-worst in the Tottenham side, while he added virtually nothing going forward, with his two attempted crosses both proving unsuccessful and none of his five attempted long passes were accurate.

Therefore, O’Rourke reckons that Conte will go all out to sign an improved right wing-back when the summer transfer window opens.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “It’s another position that Antonio Conte wants to improve in his team right now. I’m not sure he’s a total fan of Emerson Royal since his arrival from Barcelona last summer.”

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