Arsenal joined by Tottenham in Gabriel Jesus transfer race with rivals now able to offer Champions League football
TOTTENHAM are ready to battle Arsenal for Gabriel Jesus after beating their arch-rivals to the final Champions League spot.
Spurs reached the top four in style by smashing Norwich 5-0 at Carrow Road on Sunday.
Antonio Conte is due to speak to chairman Daniel Levy and managing director of football Fabio Paratici later this week about the club’s summer spending plans, after he has taken a few days’ rest with his family back in Italy.
The ex-Chelsea boss wants around six new signings and SunSport understands it is set to be a busy close-season of transfer activity with a number of comings and goings.
Brazilian forward Jesus, 25, is into the last year of his Manchester City contract and may be allowed to move on following the arrival of superstar striker Erling Haaland.
His agent Marcelo Pettinati has already confirmed he has held talks with Arsenal over a possible switch.
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It is believed the Gunners remain a serious option despite failing to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition, but Tottenham’s interest is a significant development.
Jesus’s versatility means he could play out wide and up front, meaning he would fit well into any of the three attacking slots in Conte’s 3-4-3 formation.
That would solve Spurs’ perennial problem of finding an understudy to star striker Harry Kane.
Conte warned after the win at Norwich of the need for more recruits for next term with the extra games that come with Champions League football, and with the re-introduction of the five-sub rule into the Premier League.
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The ex-Chelsea boss said: “Next season, there are five substitutions, another competition and Tottenham must understand this, that it will be very difficult, maybe much more than next season.
“We need to improve a lot. Next season the league will be very difficult for all the teams.
“With five subs you can change a game. If the bench is strong like a top team, like City, Chelsea, United and Liverpool, you need to improve a lot your squad in quality aspect and numerical aspect.”
Tottenham are set to sign Dejan Kulusevski, who scored twice at Carrow Road, permanently for £25million following his hit loan from Juventus.
Conte would like a new left-sided centre-back to compete with Ben Davies, as well as a new goalkeeper with Southampton’s out-of-contract stopper Fraser Forster likely to join.
Fresh wing-back competition could be targeted, as well as a new central midfielder with Youri Tielemans and Christian Eriksen both under consideration.
Fringe players such as Harry Winks and Joe Rodon could leave, while stopper Pierluigi Gollini will not have his loan from Atalanta turned permanent.