The opening of the transfer window is quickly approaching and Tottenham have already secured their first signing of the summer. Ivan Perisic has made the move to N17 on a two-year deal which has cost Spurs nothing, as the Croatian's contract with Inter Milan has come to an end.
Antonio Conte wants at least six new arrivals this summer and upgrades are needed all over the pitch in a team the Italian has already done great work with to improve. The 52-year-old helped lead his side to a top four finish, handing Tottenham Champions League football for next season, as an extra attraction for prospective signings.
There have been plenty of players linked with moves to north London already, from clubs across the world. This includes the likes of Djed Spence, Christian Eriksen and now Allan Saint-Maximin, with still a long way to go for business to be done.
READ MORE: Alessandro Bastoni and the transfer overhaul of Conte's Spurs defence Fabio Paratici has planned
football.london reported at the end of last month that defence is the first priority of the summer for Conte. Fabio Paratici has already begun fulfilling this with Perisic's arrival.
There is ongoing talk about Alessandro Bastoni's future as Inter need funds to buy players, which could be raised by letting the defender go. However the 23-year-old is happy at the Italian club, so that situation seems to be a waiting game.
Conte's previous admission and one he has also referred to more recently, is the need for 'balance' in his team. "It’s important, in my experience as a player and as a coach, to have in every moment the right balance, offensively and defensively. This is the best way, in my opinion, to win something," he admitted in May 2018.
"Everyone wants to put on the pitch the best technical players, but then you must have players very good to run, to win the ball, to fight to win the ball, good tackling, good at defending. Football is not simple. You must be good in both phases."
Almost exactly four years later, the Italian reiterated the same message, after Tottenham's 3-1 win against Leicester. "We need the whole team playing well and to find a good balance. When this happens, we can win the game," the 52-year-old said.
Before Conte' arrival, Spurs were conceding goals and also struggling with creativity, lacking consistency at both ends of the field. The Italian has improved individual performances and the team as a whole in his short time at N17, but there is still work to be done to take the Lilywhites to the next step.
This next step will hopefully help Tottenham not only climb the Premier League table, but also help to end their 14-year trophy drought. This is why the upcoming transfer window is so vital. In the January window, Tottenham welcomed Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur, who both made an immediate impact in Conte's regular XI.
The summer window is longer and a lot easier to do business in, and Paratici will need to make full use of that. Spurs need upgrades all over the pitch and the balance which needs to be found in the next few months is key. The 52-year-old's comments likely indicate his next move, once his first priority has been fulfilled.
After the defence signings have been made Tottenham will look to make attacking ones, in the form of a forward-thinking central midfielder and another striker, with the Lilywhites still needing a backup for Harry Kane. The current midfield duo of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Bentancur did well in the second half of the season, but Spurs could still make use of having another creative player in the middle, who can feed more to the front three.
As the Italian explained in 2018, the Lilywhites need players who can fulfil qualities which are needed at both ends of the field. This makes it even more important for Paratici to bring players to N17 who are the right fit for Conte's system and not just the 'big name' players.
Some of Spurs' business is likely to also depend on the players that make the move away from north London and only time will tell how successful Tottenham are, during arguably one of the most important transfer windows in years.
