Tottenham's list of targets for the upcoming transfer window is continuing to grow, as the opening of the window approaches. Spurs are already reportedly close to securing their first two deals of the summer, with Fraser Forster and Ivan Perisic both coming to the end of their contracts at their current clubs.
Antonio Conte's transformation of the Tottenham team, both on and off the pitch, not only helped them end the season on a high but is also likely to hand them a boost in the hunt for new arrivals. The Lilywhites' top-four finish means they will return to Champions League football next season, something that will attract incomings.
The Italian wants at least six new signings this summer, so it is expected to be a busy few months for Fabio Paratici and Tottenham, ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. ENIC's £150million investment is expected to go mostly to backing the 52-year-old, meaning Spurs can go out and spend money on players who will fit Conte's setup.
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A few years ago, Mauricio Pochettino was reportedly interested in signing Maxwel Cornet, who was playing for Lyon at the time. The Ivorian's release clause was only reported as being £7million, which would've been a cheap deal for Tottenham.
In Man City's 2018/19 Champions League campaign, Cornet scored three goals in two games, which earned him praise from Pep Guardiola. "I was very impressed by the talent of Maxwel Cornet," the City boss admitted.
Interest from Pochettino and praise from a manager like Guardiola indicate the ability the winger does have. However the 25-year-old didn't make the move to north London and instead made his debut in the Premier League not long ago, after his transfer to Burnley last summer.
This season Cornet made 26 league appearances, scoring nine goals and registering one assist. In February, the then Burnley manager Sean Dyche, described his thoughts on the former Lyon player, since his move to England.
"He is still finding his Premier League fitness and we are having to get him through this little period to hopefully get him back to that level," the 50-year-old admitted when explaining the Ivorian's positional change.
"He is finding the balance and game knowledge. He has to adapt to how the team work and the Premier League transition, which is often very fast, his reading of the game is very clever at times when we work on the counter and equally sometimes he has to read the defensive side and get back in a bit quicker.
"These are things that come with the mental and physical side of playing in the Premier League but I think he is getting there and adapting well," Dyche added.
Despite Cornet's best efforts in his first Premier League season, Burnley weren't able to stay in the top flight and were relegated on the final day of the season, winning just seven of their 38 games. However, everything the former Clarets boss described could make the 25-year-old someone that could be a good addition to Conte's side.
Reports have described the Italian's interest in the attacker, which is matched with interest from the likes of Everton and West Ham. However Tottenham have a world-class manager, top facilities and Champions League football, the Lilywhites are likely to have more of an attraction to players than their competitors.
Cornet has already shown his potential in his first season in the Premier League. Dyche's admission highlights that the 25-year-old needed time to settle into the English league, which the Ivorian will have now had a season to do.
Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur made the move to Spurs in January and settled in quickly, making an immediate impact on their new side. Not all foreign players make this adaptation so fast, but if Cornet has already had a season in England and could then make the move to a higher level team with a top manager, his full potential could be unleashed.
Burnley's relegation hands both the 25-year-old and Tottenham a boost, if they decide to target the current Clarets player. Footballers want to be playing at the top, which would make it likely that Cornet would take a move to a Premier League club over remaining at Burnley and playing in the Championship next season.
The Ivorian is currently valued at up to £17million (according to CIES) but with Burnley's relegation, this could be reduced, handing Spurs a boost. Not only because of the reasons stated above, but Dyche also mentioned Cornet's positional change.
During the 2021/22 campaign, the 25-year-old made 12 appearances as a centre-forward but he also made seven as a left-winger and six as a left midfielder. There was also the odd feature for Cornet as a right midfielder and even a left-back.
This could be a major boost for Conte, in strengthening the quality in his side and his squad depth. Tottenham need someone who can be used as a backup for Harry Kane, but this could be a struggle if a player knows they will make the move and be second choice.
However, if the Ivorian is also able to play on the wing, it gives him more opportunity to be used in the Italian's side, if he can be utilised in various positions. If the 52-year-old also sees the potential, Cornet could be converted into a wing-back, meaning he could also fill in for Sergio Reguilon and/or Ryan Sessegnon if needed and both remain in N17.
The praise he has been given, the potential he has shown and his versatility could all make him a player Tottenham look to in the upcoming window and the attraction of not just Premier League football but also the Champions League could be even more of an incentive.
