Serial winner Ivan Perišić arrives in North London
Well, they said it would happen. In a move so typically Antonio Conte, a coach who just can’t help himself when it comes to stocking his squads with grizzly experienced winners, Spurs have signed former Inter and Bayern winger Ivan Perišić on a two-year contract.
The 33-year-old Croatian, who’s won a slew of domestic silverware in Germany and Italy, as well as a Champions League with the Bavarian behemoths, is a player who brings something different to the North London club. Namely, a certain acquaintance with the concept of lifting trophies—an idea this Spurs squad is not overly familiar with as a collective.
Sure, Hugo Lloris has his World Cup, Lucas Moura has a cabinet full of medals from his time at PSG, and Ryan Sessegnon won’t forget his 2018 Championship play-off win from 2018 in a hurry, but this seems very much a statement of intent from Conte…and Perišić just exudes that stellarspins.com winning mentality. He looks like he means business.
Attacking options
The move has undoubtedly spiced up Spurs’ attacking options. A starting front three of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, and Dejan Kulusevski is just irresponsibly dangerous—among the most potent attacks in Europe, you would argue. Supplement that with Perersic, Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn and suddenly there are choices available. Indeed, a 60-game campaign will need every inch of Spurs’ squad depth next season, and this latest addition will allow plenty of room for rotation should Conte take them deep into the domestic cups and Champions League knockouts.
There’s perhaps an argument that Conte could do with a like-for-like replacement for Harry Kane, which I’m quite sure Spurs fans have been suggesting for nearly eight years now. If we’re sticking with the gnarled veteran archetype for a center-forward, which seems logical if they’re not expecting serious game time, then I’m sure Conte has a few names up his sleeve. Luis Suarez has a contract up this summer.
With a £150m war chest having been wheeled into Conte’s office last week, and centrebacks and fullbacks very much top of the priorities list for next season, the recruitment of any more attackers will likely fall into the bracket of creative spending, as this Perišić deal signifies.
So who’s next through the door?
