Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy gets transfer business done early

Tottenham have not finished their summer spending, with a right wing-back now on their agenda and negotiations ongoing for Middlesbrough’s Djed Spence as Antonio Conte’s revolution at White Hart Lane continues apace.

Even insiders at the club have been taken aback by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy belying the habit of a lifetime and getting transfer business done early in the window so that the coach can work with his squad in pre-season.

Tottenham have previously been associated with last-minute transfer-deadline-day deals in order to secure the best price. The squad return to training on Wednesday and fly out to Korea next Saturday to play two friendlies against a K-League XI in Seoul and against Sevilla in Suwon.

And for once Spurs fly out with the squad largely settled after ENIC, the company which owns Tottenham and is controlled by Joe Lewis, injected £150million into the club, with £100 set aside for transfers.

With the signing of Richarlison for £52m from Everton, Yves Bissouma for £26m from Brighton, Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster on frees and the imminent arrival of centre-half Clement Lenglet from Barcelona, Conte is approaching his goal of having two experienced players for each position.

But he will want the right wing-back position sorted out in the next week, with Emerson Royal not expected to make the cut. 

Matt Doherty can play in the position but Conte will want more strength in depth and quality. With Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon and Ben Davies he is well-covered on the left and Lenglet’s arrival, along with the confirmation that Cristian Romero’s £40m clause has been activated, means he has enough centre-halves.

Midfield is covered by the Bissouma arrival and with Rodrigo Bentancur having joined in