Tottenham icon Paul Robinson claims Antonio Conte will strengthen these two positions in January
Paul Robinson, who played for Tottenham Hotspur between 2004 and 2008, has stated that manager Antonio Conte would look to strengthen in the right-back and the centre-back area of his starting XI in the January transfer window.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the 2008 EFL Cup winner with Spurs said:
“Conte clearly has an issue with his wing-backs because he changes them every week. Djed Spence is nowhere near the team at the moment. I’m not sure if Emerson Royal or [Matt] Doherty are good enough so you would have to sat right wing-back is a problem area.”
Anyone who follows Spurs would know by now that the former Italian manager has opted to overlook Djed Spence a lot of times when selecting his starting XI. The Englishman is also struggling to see any meaningful time from the bench.
Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty are decent but they aren’t near the level of some of the top right-backs right now in England. Robinson also believes Conte will look to add someone at centre-back, and said:
“Davinson Sanchez is not of the level of the other centre-halves. When Sanchez and Emerson play on the right-hand side of the defence together there is a real weakness there. That is why I think right wing-back and right centre-half are two area the manager will definitely look at when the window re-opens.”
Davinson Sanchez was billed as one of the best young defenders in Europe when he joined us from Ajax. But the Colombia international has failed to build on that reputation and can definitely be upgraded upon by Spurs in January.
RB Leipzig centre-back Mohamed Simaka and Inter Milan defender Alessandro Baston are two young defenders that have been linked with us. Either of them would be a welcome addition.
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As for a wing-back, it remains to be seen who Conte signs – if anyone. He worked on the left flank a lot this year, reinstating Ryan Sessegnon in the team and signing Ivan Perisic to replace Sergio Reguilon in the starting XI. A similar change is needed on the opposite flank.