Your Tottenham Hotspur morning digest on Monday, January 2.
Conte makes title claim
Antonio Conte has insisted it is "crazy" to think Tottenham are genuine title contenders. The Italian made the brutal point following his side's 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday.
He said: "Then I was very clear with the club because in this moment and before to become a title contender, because I remember very well in the summer, at the start, people talked about Tottenham as title contenders but in my experience it was a bit crazy to read this. To become a title contender, to become a team ready to fight to win something you need to have a solid foundation. That means to have 14 or 15 strong players, quality and the other young players to develop.
"And every season you can add two players but two players to invest £50m, £60m, £70m and in this way it means you are signing important players that improve quality and the level of your team but this is a process guys. It's a process."
Read more here.
READ MORE: Every word Antonio Conte said on what he told Daniel Levy and Tottenham and unrealistic dreams
Franck Kessie transfer blow
Tottenham have been handed a major blow in their pursuit of Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie.
Italian news outlet Tuttomercatoweb have claimed that Kessie has refused to leave Barcelona despite the Catalan side being open to selling the midfielder. Kessie joined the club in the summer on a free transfer after his contract expired at AC Milan.
Read more here.
Mac Allister update
Brighton chief executive Paul Barber has opened up on the current transfer situation surrounding midfielder Alexis Mac Allister amid interest from Tottenham.
When asked about Mac Allister, Barber said: "No – and we don’t want any [contact]. We are quite happy as we are, certainly for as long as we can be. But we are also realistic. Alexis Mac Allister has just won a World Cup at 23 years of age and has had a fantastic season with us."
Read more here.
READ NEXT:
Why Dejan Kulusevski is not in Tottenham squad vs Aston Villa as injury hands Bryan Gil chance
Tottenham player ratings vs Aston Villa: Lloris howler, Kane and Son poor, Bissouma suspended
Franck Kessie, Tete and Antonio Conte's two Tottenham January transfer window priorities
Dejan Kulusevski was 'terrified' of Tottenham move but admits Conte is 'very nice on the inside'
Antonio Conte's clear Tottenham transfer message, Djed Spence mess and Kane's unwanted attention
