‘He’s in the squad’: Conte’s latest comments look like great news for 21-year-old Tottenham youngster

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It’s been a summer of change at Tottenham Hotspur, who have signed six new players.

Indeed, Spurs are reportedly about to land a seventh in Destiny Udogie.

At the same time, Tottenham have sold three players and sent another out on loan.

And there could potentially be up to four more in the coming weeks.

Spurs quartet Sergio Reguilon, Harry Winks, Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso aren’t in Antonio Conte’s plans.

However, one Tottenham player with a previously uncertain future appears to have won Conte over.

Back in May, there were reports suggesting Spurs were open to selling Bryan Gil, or at least loan him out.

But earlier this month, it looked as though Conte had changed his mind.

CBS journalist Ben Jacobs told Last Word on Spurs: “I know that Conte has been really, really impressed by the player.”

And now, the Tottenham boss has suggested that he plans to keep Gil around this season.

“Now he’s in the squad”

Conte spoke to football.london ahead of Spurs’ Premier League trip to Chelsea on Sunday.

He was asked about his attacking options, and replied: “I’m very happy with our squad because compared to last season we improved, with Richy but we lost Bergwijn.

“Gil went on loan but now he’s in the squad of 20 players. I think in midfield we improved with Bissouma and with Winks, and then with Lenglet behind.

“We signed players with common sense, to find players with right characteristics, to help us have the quality. To have reliable players, players ready to have a good impact.”

Admittedly, he name-checked Winks, who appears to be frozen out, so it’s not necessarily a cast-iron guarantee for Gil in terms of a first-team breakthrough.

Nonetheless, Conte seems to rate the 21-year-old highly, so his long-term future at N17 looks a lot more secure now.