Tottenham Hotspur are planning to back Antonio Conte fully in the transfer market this summer to ensure the Italian's ambitions can be achieved at the club, football.london understands.
The Italian has surpassed expectations in his first seven months at Spurs, taking them to a fourth-place finish and back into the Champions League. Conte has impressed the Tottenham hierarchy with the way he has knitted the club back together from the fragmented, demoralised outfit left in the wake of the brief Nuno Espirito Santo era.
An emotional rollercoaster of a manager, Conte has poured himself into the job at Spurs and has brought smiles back to those in the corridors of Hotspur Way. The 52-year-old, with his coaching staff, has transformed the fitness and mentality of a Tottenham squad that was bottom of most of the statistical charts and has made them one of the hardest-working sides in the Premier League.
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Conte has forged a strong bond with his Tottenham players and the big stars have all given themselves over entirely to his philosophy. Son Heung-min has enjoyed his best season in a Spurs shirt and fired his way to the Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane is fitter than he has ever been at the club and has managed to avoid injuries this season while Hugo Lloris was desperate to play against Burnley despite having suffered from a fever and sickness.
The players, whether they're starting or not, have all put their bodies on the line for Conte and many have reached new heights, including Ben Davies, Eric Dier and younger players like Oliver Skipp and Ryan Sessegnon are beginning to realise their potential.
Newcomers Cristian Romero, Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski have all flourished under the tutelage of Conte and the proof is there for all to see just how crucial the Italian's first transfer window in January was. Both Bentancur and Kulusevski have made a huge impact and in the final game, the Uruguayan laid on two assists and the Swede scored twice, taking his tally to five goals and eight assists - 13 goal involvements in his first 18 Premier League matches.
Across north London, it has not gone unnoticed that Tottenham's January transfer business tipped the top four scales in their favour while Arsenal sat on their hands that month.
Behind the scenes Conte has been making his views very clear to the club about what needs to be done, delivering frank words to chairman Daniel Levy and managing director Fabio Paratici about the changes that need to be made to create a team that can compete with the elite.
Conte is heading back to Italy on Monday to spend some time decompressing from the season's end with his wife Elisabetta and daughter Vittoria. The Italian wants his emotions to settle following a remarkable end to the campaign before the future is discussed.
The Spurs boss had the noisy Tottenham fans eating from the palm of his hand at Carrow Road throughout the 5-0 win. They sang his name from the opening moments and when he walked over to stand in front of them and applaud them in return after the final whistle, they sang their way through another chant they'd come up for him.
He pointed to his squad alongside him, imploring for the crowd to recognise them, which they did with various players chants. The supporters and the players know though that it is Conte who has dragged the club up by the scruff of its neck back to a seat at the top table.
That is why he will return from Italy after this week's family time with all of the power in his post-season meeting with the club's hierarchy as Levy and Paratici know exactly what a game-changer they have for Tottenham in the former Inter Milan boss.
They also know that Conte has shown in the past that he will walk away at a moment's notice from clubs far bigger than Spurs if he does not feel that his way is seen as the right way.
That is why his meeting with the powers-that-be is set to be a positive one and football.london understands that Spurs are preparing to back Conte this summer in the transfer market to assemble a squad capable of competing with the Premier League's best.
Those inside the club are excited about what the summer is set to bring with Conte's first pre-season and the head coach and Paratici working in tandem to improve Spurs' squad and build on their first January transfer window together. There is also a desire to get new faces through the door in time to take part in Conte's gruelling pre-season as well as an acceptance that the club's policy of only signing young players with resale value will have to be eschewed if the right older players come along.
Paratici's experience of utilising the free agent market will help fill out a squad with ready-made top players while leaving funds for the priority positions.
Spurs' managing director of football, who will appoint his own new number two in the coming weeks, has been overhauling the scouting department at Spurs, along with other areas of the club. That improved scouting network is expected to start bearing fruit.
While Tottenham are preparing to spend the money required in the coming window on the 'important players' Conte wants, the key to a successful window is seen as making the right signings after spending big on transfers that haven't worked out in recent years.
Spurs want to give Conte the platform to deliver what he has constantly proven he can - silverware. That's something that has eluded Tottenham for far too long and for Conte himself, a return to the Champions League gives him the opportunity to improve a record that shows just three wins in his past 15 matches in the competition.
Conte's words about his future after Sunday's match were once again somewhat ambiguous but the expectation within Tottenham is that Conte will be in charge next season. Those inside the club believe they have seen the Italian grow fonder and fonder of his surroundings as he has built a connection with those inside and outside the club.
For Conte this project brings something different to his usual assignments. Often parachuted into big clubs already set up to challenge and needing to perform quickly, at Tottenham he is the big fish in a smaller pond but one that has the potential to be something much bigger with him as its architect.
It will take a lot of work and Conte admits he has been drained by his experiences at Tottenham this season. He needs help this summer.
"Today is really important to celebrate this big achievement but for sure to become competitive and be ready to fight for something important you need to improve, improve a lot in many aspects and I know only one word, that is work, work, work. Everybody has to do the right path in this process," he said.
"We need to improve a lot. Next season the league will be very difficult for all the teams. With five subs you can change a game. If the bench is strong like a top team, like City, Chelsea, United and Liverpool, you need to improve a lot your squad in quality aspect and numerical aspect. You have to face in England three national competitions and one in the Champions League."
When asked how many new players he wants, he said: "In this moment it was very difficult to speak about this. I’m very tired. I was really focused to get this big achievement. First it was a big achievement for myself. Despite the fact I didn’t lift a trophy, for me it is a big achievement, for me in a short time and short period in a difficult situation I worked a lot with my players to bring this club to play Champions League.
"I want to consider this qualification like a trophy. In my mind, my heart, my head I know what we did in these seven months. Me, my staff and the players. I want to celebrate and we’ll have time to speak with the club about everything."
Conte was pushed one more time to confirm that he will be in charge of Tottenham next season and in a rarity for the Spurs boss in recent weeks, he did acknowledge that he has another season on his contract.
"I'm under contract until next summer. I signed for one year and seven months. I enjoyed a lot my time at Tottenham because, I repeat, for me it was a big challenge," he explained. "To come in during the season, for a coach like me, is not easy. It was a big challenge in a modern club with a fantastic stadium and training ground.
"I knew the situation I could find, to give me the opportunity to work in the way that I want, on the one hand. On the other hand, I have ambition, I like to fight for something important, to lift trophies. For me this is a trophy and I'm very happy. Then we'll see. I always said at the end of the season we'll speak to the club and find the best solution for me and the club."
Conte has found a club where people are hanging on his every word. The Italian has a high opinion of his worth - as most managers do - but there will still be something appealing about a club where he is designing the project rather than being simply responsible for its success.
There are stars in Conte's squad and they want to remain by his side. The key to keeping him and them happy is that Tottenham keep pace as the Premier League's elite all strengthen this summer and rich new boys Newcastle join them.
Conte does not want another situation where four or five first team injuries require Tottenham to name four unproven academy youngsters on a Premier League bench, particularly in a season when all clubs will be able to bring five fresh players on during matches to transform their teams.
It is a rule change that will only help the big clubs grow more powerful with squads able to manage matches. Tottenham know they have to be a part of that with a bigger, more talented and not get left behind.
Those within Spurs admit Conte has turned and looked at his substitutes' bench at times this time but turned back to the pitch, knowing that he would weaken his team if he changed things.
The arrival of Champions League football not only brings a huge cash boost but also the need to build a squad of the strength required to compete in all competitions. Europe's elite club competition does not allow for the wholesale changes made by Tottenham to their starting line-ups in the Europa Conference League. Those who do come into the side must be of a similar ability.
This summer brings a clear crossroads at Tottenham Hotspur and the club know what they have in Antonio Conte. He will be backed and having seen what he has done with lesser resources there is a genuine excitement once again in N17 about what comes next.
