Tottenham stalking £35m stand-out as Antonio Conte prepares to hang two stars out to dry

Antonio Conte is mulling a move for an Italy international who has already won one selection battle and could put two Tottenham stars on ice, per a report.

The Spurs boss has been backed in the market since taking charge and that is a trend that is expected to continue in the future.

Two Serie A stars and a French striker have drawn strong links of late. Elsewhere, a reignited move for Everton winger Anthony Gordon has been talked up.

However, today’s update regards a position Conte frequently targets – wing-back.

Spurs already have a plethora of options on either flank. On the right side, the Italian can choose between Emerson Royal, Matt Doherty and the rarely seen Djed Spence.

On the left, his choice boils down to the experienced Ivan Perisic – signed only last summer – and Ryan Sessegnon.

However, according to Calciomercatoweb, Tottenham are eyeing yet another new left wing-back.

They report Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco is in Spurs’ sights and would command a fee of at least €35m-€40m (approx. £30.5m-£35m).

Dimarco, 25, was expected to play second fiddle to Robin Gosens at the San Siro after Perisic’s exit.

However, it’s Dimarco that has earned Simone Inzaghi’s favour, starting all 15 of Inter’s league matches and returning three goals and one assist.

He’s also become a regular in Roberto Mancini’s Italian national side. Had Italy qualified for the Qatar World Cup, Dimarco may have got the starting nod at left wing-back.

Dimarco arrival would leave Tottenham pair sweating

There is no indication Inter actively want to sell Dimarco. However, Spurs’ financial might could make their mind up for them. What’s more, in Gosens, Inter already have a viable starter-level wing-back if Dimarco were sold.

The report hints at Perisic’s age making him only a short-term fix for Conte. The Croatian has looked the part since arriving, though he’ll turn 34 in February and clearly isn’t the long-term answer.

Ryan Sessegnon may hope to be and has taken great strides forward under Conte. However, an outlay of the level Dimarco would command would likely see the new face installed as first-choice.

What’s more, Conte knows Dimarco well from his time at Inter, meaning there’s less chance of a bedding-in period being required, as is the case for Djed Spence, for example.

READ MORE: Tottenham backed to sign £60m target for vastly-reduced fee as transfer twist alerts Conte