Spurs boss Conte looks to native Italy for reinforcements to save club’s season

Tottenham are one of a number of Premier League sides embroiled in Covid-19 related controversy this week, as the Lilywhites saw their request for their game against Leicester City to be postponed rebuffed. 

Despite the Foxes having also requested a rearrangement, the game on Thursday will go ahead with both sides struggling to overcome outbreaks of the virus within their respective squads.

Leicester will be without nine players due to Covid and illnesses, while the likes of Wesley Fofana, Caglar Soyuncu and Johnny Evans are all set to miss out due to unrelated injuries.

Spurs are already having to deal with an even more congested festive schedule after their Europa Conference League clash against Rennes last week was called off until a later date.

With a gruelling schedule ahead stretching well into the new year and ground to make up in the race for European qualification, it appears that Antonio Conte is going back to his roots in an attempt to save Spurs’ season.

Insigne is captain of boyhood club Napoli

The Italian will reportedly target Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne, who is set to be out of contract next summer, as per Football Italia.

The Serie A side’s captain, who emerged from the club’s academy, could be available to agree a pre-contract agreement with any foreign club from January 1, however his current employers may choose to cash in on him in the new year, to avoid losing him for free in June.

The 30-year-old is a player well known by Conte, as he managed the Italian national side for two years between 2014-2016.

Conte is also familiar with the Italian to flight, having managed and won the title with both Juventus and Inter Milan.

Insigne has made more than 400 appearances for the Naples club, scoring 114 goals and registering 91 assists during that time.

He has also won two Italian Cups and the Italian Super Cup, and was part of the Italy side that won Euro 2020 this summer.

Conte is believed to be on the lookout for attacking reinforcements in January as he looks to balance Harry Kane’s lack of goals, with the England captain scoring just once so in the Premier League so far this season.

Spurs reportedly perceive the player as a potential low-cost option for the mid-season window.