Tottenham: Conte could bring £18m 'perfect footballer' to Hotspur Way | OneFootball

Tottenham would be signing the “perfect footballer” if they can convince Hellas Verona midfielder Antonin Barak to join them this summer, according to Italian football journalist Conor Clancy.

Barak has spent the last two seasons at Verona, and has delivered some impressive numbers during his time at the Serie A outfit.

How has Barak fared this season?

The 6 foot 3 midfielder continued to go from strength to strength this season, registering 11 goals and four assists in Italy’s top-flight. His standout performance came against Sassuolo in January, when he netted a hat-trick and produced an assist in a 4-2 win.

His displays have caught the eye of Tottenham boss Antonio Conte, who is looking to strengthen his midfield in the off-season.

As reported by Italian publication Mondo Udinese, Conte is keen to bring the £18m-rated ace to north London ahead of his side’s 2022/23 campaign.

Chelsea CLOSE to signing Jules Kounde! Hear more on The Football Terrace…

What has Clancy said about Barak?

Clancy believes Barak has a very well-rounded game, which would make him a fine addition to any squad.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Clancy said: “Barak, he’s a guarantee. When he plays for Verona, he’s always a threat, whether or not he’s getting on the end of chances or creating them himself.

“He’s decent in the air as well, which you don’t usually see from attacking midfielders. He doesn’t look like a player who’s going to be that elegant on the ball, but he’s technically excellent.

“He can score all sorts of goals, his timing of runs is pretty flawless. I think he’s a perfect footballer.”

Could Barak ease some of the pressure on Tottenham’s front three next season?

Tottenham’s front three of Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski scored 45 goals and delivered 24 assists between them in the Premier League this season, according to WhoScored.

These are phenomenal numbers, but it also shows how dependent Spurs have been on their attacking trio, as no other player in the team managed more than three top-flight goals.

If Kane, Son and Kulusevski have a rare off-day, Tottenham often don’t look like scoring, and that is a problem that Conte needs to address.

Barak could be a potential solution, with his late runs into the box making him a goal threat, something which Tottenham don’t currently have in their midfield.

Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg have done solid jobs in the middle of the park in Conte’s 3-4-3 system, but the Italian coach may want a little more from his central midfield duo next term, and this is where Barak could come into play and improve Tottenham’s starting XI.