Report: Newcastle join Tottenham in race, Conte stopped him joining Spurs in 2020

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The Daily Mail claim Newcastle United have joined Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Inter Milan defender Milan Skriniar. Tottenham have been strongly linked with a move for the Slovakian for some time.

The 26-year-old was mostly linked with Spurs during Jose Mourinho’s reign. But he certainly has admirers at Tottenham, and both Fabio Paratici and Antonio Conte’s knowledge of Serie A football will know Skriniar.

Conte worked alongside Skriniar at Inter, but he fell out of favour at one point under the new Tottenham boss. Despite that, Football London report Conte prevented Spurs signing Skriniar for £30million in 2020.

Now, Tottenham remain interested and could look to form a Conte reunion. It is widely-believed that Spurs will look to bring in a centre-back, with Conte using a three-at-the-back system this season.

Meanwhile, Newcastle might look to beat Spurs to the arrival of Skriniar. Like Newcastle, they need better quality and depth for Eddie Howe’s similar formation. It is unclear how much Skriniar would cost in January.

Tottenham or Newcastle: Which club is best for Inter star Skriniar?

Skriniar is a warrior. A powerful centre-back that lacks pace, but makes up for it in strength, aerial ability and the kind of defensive leadership to put his body on the line. He is best in the middle of a back three.

Do Spurs need that desperately? Eric Dier has arguably been Tottenham’s best player this season. Cristian Romero is a good option on the right of the three – Spurs probably need a left-sided defender more than most.

Newcastle, meanwhile, would be pulling off a major coup. But would Skriniar be tempted by a move to Tyneside? Maybe not in January, but in the summer – with Newcastle avoiding the drop.