Having sold Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, Tottenham never got the replacement striker they might have needed.
Spurs have done quite well without one, with Ange Postecoglou adapting to the situation nicely, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t looking for a forward.
A report a couple of weeks ago stated that Tottenham had added Joshua Zirkzee to their list of targets, and now we see a claim that Antonio Conte could scupper their efforts to sign the Dutchman, courtesy of Marcello Giordano, a journalist for Il Resto del Carlino interviewed by TV Play.
This all comes amid rumours the former Spurs manager is one of the names ticked at Bayern Munich to replace Thomas Tuchel at the end of the season, and if he were to get the job, he could bring the striker back to Bavaria.
When Bayern sold Zirkzee to Bologna, they included a €40m buy back clause in the deal, meaning they could recover his services rather swiftly and for a lower sum than his €60m+ valuation reported in the media.
Giordano said: “If Conte goes to Bayern, we already now that he has flagged Zirkzee to all the clubs that have contacted him. A few weeks ago there were rumours in Germany that [Zirkzee] wouldn’t be brought back because Bayern Munich recently spent a large sum on Kane, but if a manager like Conte, who plays with two forwards, arrives, then perhaps Zirkzee is needed.”
In short, Conte could scupper any transfer plans Tottenham have for the Bologna star if he were to take over in Germany, or at any other club, since he seems determined to work with the player at his next club.
