Former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood has praised Spurs' change of approach in the transfer market this summer, citing the influence of Antonio Conte on changing the club's approach in order to ready the squad for Champions League football.
Sherwood managed the club in the second half of the 2013/14 season, having an important influence in the career of Harry Kane, giving the striker his first tastes of regular first team action before being replaced by Mauricio Pochettino for the 2014/15 season. Both managers had to operate under the conservative approach in the transfer market adopted by chairman Daniel Levy.
This summer has seen a change of approach, with a host of deals completed during June and July seeing five first team players come in to the club. Free transfers have been sealed for Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster, while a combined £78.5 million has been spent on Yves Bissouma and Richarlison. Elsewhere, Clement Lenglet has arrived on loan from Barcelona.
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Sherwood, speaking on behalf of 888sport, said: “This is a very different tack to what I’ve seen before from Daniel Levy. Obviously, he normally leaves it very late in the window to do his business so as to get value in the market.
"But Antonio has a good knack for getting what he wants from chairmen and why shouldn’t that be the case here, when you look at the success he’s had as a player and how starved of success Spurs have been. When you have a manager like that coming in, calling the shots, you have to let him take the lead. So Daniel has done the right thing even if ideally, he likes to leave it late."
There are still more signings potentially to come, with James Maddison and Memphis Depay both rumoured to be joining the club as the Lilywhites aim to reach the top four and achieve Champions League qualification for a second successive season. Sherwood has backed the Italian manager to achieve just that.
He said: "We know Man City and Liverpool are going to be there but we’re unsure about what Chelsea will do and we’re totally unsure about Manchester United and how they will respond under Ten Hag. So it’s there for Tottenham to cement that top four place year after year like they did under Pochettino.”
Tim Sherwood, was speaking on behalf of 888sport. Head to 888sport for the latest sporting odds.
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