The Telegraph have revealed that Antonio Conte wanted to sign both Harry Kane and Kyle Walker from Tottenham Hotspur when he was the manager of Chelsea in 2017.
Conte’s return to Stamford Bridge did not go according to plan on Wednesday as his Spurs side fell to a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.
Ahead of the game, a report in The Telegraph explored the acrimonious manner in which Conte’s time with the Blues ended, explaining the Italian’s relationship with the club’s hierarchy fractured as a result of him not being backed in the transfer market.
The report reveals that Conte wanted to sign Walker from Spurs before the right-back secured a £50m move to Manchester City in the summer of 2017.
The Italian is thought to have expressed his admiration of Harry Kane just days after Chelsea had spent a then club-record fee to sign Alvaro Moratta.
It is asserted that the 52-year-old was also keen on snapping up Fernando Llorente, only to see Spurs beat him to the signing of the Spaniard that summer.
That transfer window in the summer of 2017 is said to have opened up cracks in Conte’s relationship with the Chelsea board that eventually led to his sacking 12 months later.
MORE SPURS STORIES
The Telegraph reveal the divorce was so bitter that the Tottenham boss ended up in a legal battle with Chelsea after his dismissal, winning two lawsuits that cost the West London club more than £26m.
Spurs Web Opinion
This should serve as a caution to the Spurs board as Conte will make his displeasure clear if he feels he is not being backed sufficiently in the transfer window. So, if Paratici and Levy do not stick to the promises they made from the Italian, we will hear about it from the Tottenham head coach.
Keep up to date with all the latest Tottenham news and opinion by following SpursWeb’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
