Journalist predicts that Conte can be persuaded to sign new Spurs contract

Journalist Graeme Bailey believes that Antonio Conte could be persuaded to commit his future to Tottenham if the club could make a statement signing before the transfer window closes.

Gianluca Di Marzio revealed on Sunday that Conte has put the talks of his future on standby until the summer despite Tottenham being willing to offer him a new deal.

The journalist added that he expects the Italian to leave the Premier League club at the end of this season.

Meanwhile, The Sun journalist Martin Lipton told Off The Ball on Saturday that Conte is likely to leave Tottenham for personal reasons, with the 53-year-old wanting to live with his family in Italy.

However, Bailey has claimed that Conte believes Spurs are closer to challenging for big trophies than he publicly lets on, and that a statement signing might persuade him to stay.

The journalist did add that he was unsure how the recent verdict of Juventus’ capital gains trial and its impact on Fabio Paratici’s future will affect the Tottenham head coach’s decision.

Bailey told TEAMtalk: “The truth with Antonio Conte is that he has not made a decision on his future yet. Spurs want him to stay, that is their priority, and as it stands the club believe he will – but the club’s hierarchy want him to commit.

“Firstly, the January window will play a part, he wants new players with a new right wing-back a big priority at the top of his list. If Spurs can bring in someone he wants, like Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo, then that will go a long way to persuading him to stay.

“Another aspect for Conte is does he think he can win with Tottenham? He does, he really does and that is why it will be hard for him to leave because he doesn’t think this team is far away.

“However, the future of Fabio Paratici could have a huge bearing. The Italian has been handed a two-and-half-year ban by the Italian authorities and we need to see if that will impact on his future with Tottenham.

“If Paratici left, it will be fascinating to see how much of an impact that would have on Conte.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I do not think Paratici’s future will have a bearing on Conte’s. If anything, I can see Conte viewing Paratici’s potential departure as a means to seize more power, with respect to the transfer decisions. However, I do not think the Spurs hierarchy will want to hang on to Conte if we finish outside the top four this season.

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