Journalist believes Spurs may have just thrown a hint about Conte’s future

Gabriele Marcotti has suggested that Tottenham’s deadline day signing of Pedro Porro could be evidence that the North London club are determined to keep Antonio Conte at the club beyond the end of this season.

Tottenham not only agreed to pay a total of £44m to Sporting Lisbon for Porro (including the loan fee) but they also agreed to wave off 15 per cent of their sell-on clause on Marcus Edwards (Sky Sports).

In addition, to make room for the 23-year-old, Spurs terminated Matt Doherty’s contract despite the Irishman still having 18 months to run on his deal, so that he could sign for Atletico Madrid, thus forgoing a fee for the former Wolves man.

Spurs fans will be hoping that Porro is the answer to Tottenham’s issues at right wing-back and that the 23-year-old is able to replicate the kind of performances he has delivered in Portugal for the last 18 months.

Marcotti believes that the fact that the Lilywhites have invested in yet another player who is suited to playing as a wing-back but not as a full-back could be a hint that they want to do their best to tie Conte down.

The journalist told ESPN: “I think it’s interesting when we talk about Tottenham’s recruitment. Conte’s contract, as you know, expires in June. He’s not signed a new one or he hasn’t been offered one, from what we understand.

“Fabio Paratici, their head of recruitment, has this massive court case and this ban, which he’s going to appeal. It’s interesting to read this because, from what Jules (Laurens) was saying about Porro, about needing to play as a wing-back rather than a flat-back four or whatever else.

“It does maybe point to the fact that Spurs are saying in their minds ‘let’s give Conte what he needs now, and if it works out, then we will do our best make sure that he stays and we reach a deal.”

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The fact that Tottenham did not seemingly negotiate for any other right wing-back and put all their eggs in the Porro basket, is also an indication that the club want to offer Conte exactly what he wants to see if he can make things work over the coming months.

Given how unreasonable Sporting were during the negotiations, Spurs would have usually turned their attention to alternatives like Dumfries. The fact that they did not is a sign that the club were committed to signing Conte’s top target.

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