Tottenham boss Conte’s Boxing Day comments highlight Daniel Levy’s big summer mistake: TBR View

Add as preferred source on Google

On Boxing Day, Antonio Conte pointed out a big problem he’s facing at Tottenham Hotspur at the moment, and the blame lies on Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici.

Spurs’ biggest issue over the last few years has been their over-reliance on Harry Kane. If the Englishman is fit and firing, Tottenham fancy themselves against most sides in the country. If he’s injured or out of form, they tend to struggle, and that has cost them on numerous occasions.

Jose Mourinho signed Carlos Vinicius on loan last year but Levy and co decided against making that a permanent deal in the summer.

Every Spurs fan was begging for a new striker in the last transfer window, but Levy and Paratici couldn’t get a deal done, and it’s Conte who has a problem now.

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte: I can’t rotate Harry Kane

On Boxing Day, when Spurs beat Crystal Palace 3-0, Conte decided to withdraw Kane after 64 minutes. That was a much-needed break for the Englishman, but bringing him off isn’t a luxury that the Italian has every game.

The Spurs manager told BBC Sport after the win: “I always say we are talking about a top-class striker and a player that for us is very important.

“Today I had the possibility to give him a bit of rest and for him to play only 60 minutes was important.

“Kane is a player it is very difficult to decide to put in a rotation.”

• ‘That’d be fantastic’: Pundit shares what he’s now hearing about Harry Kane’s Tottenham future

Spurs need a new striker

The winter transfer window is now open and it’s Conte’s first chance to bring in the players he wants. A striker will undoubtedly be on his wish list and Levy should give him the resources he needs.

Kane will remain the undisputed number one at Tottenham no matter what. The Englishman, despite his struggles this season, is one of the best strikers in the world, but he can’t always be the man for Spurs. He needs help too.

A quality backup for Kane – someone who can learn under him, play alongside him and potentially even replace him in a few years’ time – should be a priority in this month’s window.

If Levy, Paratici and co decide to focus on other areas like they did in the summer, it could prove to be an even bigger mistake now than it was a few months ago. It will be interesting to see what Tottenham will do in the coming weeks.