Tottenham: £15m starlet is a ‘great sign’ for Conte at Hotspur Way | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur have received a ‘potentially good sign’ over Antonio Conte’s future through the imminent signing of Destiny Udogie, according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.

Conte is not renowned for staying in jobs for a particularly long time but bringing in the 19-year-old prospect could indicate he is looking to buck that trend in north London.

So far this summer, Tottenham have snapped up Fraser Forster, 34, Ivan Perisic, 33, Clement Lenglet, 27, Yves Bissouma, 25, Richarlison, 25, and Djed Spence, who is 22.

With the exception of Spence, all of Spurs’ recruits are either in their peak years or the twilight of their career’s, indicating Conte is looking for an instant return on the investment made in them.

However, Sky Sports have revealed that Tottenham have agreed a deal with Udinese for the signature of Udogie, who will remain a teenager until his next birthday in November.

The capital club will pay the Serie A outfit an initial £15 million for the left-back before immediately loaning him back to the Dacia Arena for the 2022/23 campaign.

Conte is satisfied with Perisic and Ryan Sessegnon as his left wing-backs at this moment in time, while the Tottenham hierarchy are still trying to find a buyer for Sergio Reguilon after he was frozen out of the first-team.

What has Bridge said about Conte?

Three years is Conte’s longest stint in one dugout, but Bridge believesUdogie’s capture is a ‘great sign’ that Tottenham are planning for the long-term with the Italian at the helm.

He told GiveMeSport: “It is potentially a good sign that Conte, we’re told, mentioned him to Levy, and I’m sure Paratici did the same.

“Does that mean Conte is staying next season? No, but it’s a good sign that Conte is thinking ahead, I’m sure. But it’s a great sign from Tottenham to be thinking ahead like this, it really is.”

How good is Udogie?

Udogie enjoyed a stellar season for Udinese last time out, registering five goals and three assists in 35 Serie A outings as they finished in a respectable 12th position.

And the Italy Under-21 international’s underlying numbers were equally as impressive.

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Do you know this obscure player Tottenham signed in the January transfer window?

Mounir El Hamdaoui Hélder Postiga Stéphane Dalmat Noé Pamarot

As per FBref, the 6 foot 1 ace ranked in the 99th percentile for non-penalty expected goals, 88th for touches in the attacking penalty area, 84th for pressures and total shots, and the 81st for completed dribbles and tackles amongst his positional peers over the last year.

On the face of it, Udogie appears to be a very clever purchase from Tottenham, and one that the club’s supporters will surely be hoping helps keep Conte around for the foreseeable future.