Spurs may make £25m star Sherwood wasted Conte’s first signing

Matt Stead
Jordan Veretout looks on

Spurs have identified Roma midfielder Jordan Veretout as a potential first signing for Antonio Conte.

Conte has made no secret of the need for investment in north London since being appointed as the club’s manager in November.

Despite being linked with a number of players, including £12m forward Keane Lewis-Potter, those messages have not yet been heeded by the hierarchy.

While Spurs have undeniably improved under Conte there remains a perceived need for added impetus in numerous positions, including central midfield.

Veretout could provide a solution as Calciomercato believe he is being ‘monitored’.

The 28-year-old admired Conte’s Serie A-winning work with Inter Milan in the 2020/21 season, during which Veretout scored ten goals and assisted three for Europa League semi-finalists Roma.

But since Jose Mourinho’s arrival in the capital, the Frenchman has not been quite as effective and has failed to add to his four goals in the opening six games of the season.

Veretout could find himself surplus to requirements if Mourinho’s own wish for transfer reinforcements is granted, with Spurs midfielder Tanguy Ndombele among his targets.

That could open the door to a player exchange of sorts, as Spurs are considering matching the Italian side’s £24.9m valuation of Veretout – although any deal is unlikely to take place until the summer.

It would be Veretout’s second Premier League club after an ill-advised move to Aston Villa in 2015.

He was unsurprisingly unable to steer the club clear of relegation in his only campaign, making 25 appearances and registering five assists.

Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood brought Veretout to Villa Park for £7m but soon seemed to lose interest in the Frenchman, starting him in the opening two Premier League games of the 2015/16 season but only once thereafter before being sacked in October.

“I’m really pleased Jordan decided to choose Aston Villa over the other options he had and opt to continue his development with us,” Sherwood said at Veretout’s unveiling.

“He is only 22 years old but he is vastly experienced for someone that age. He has played over 140 games in Ligue 1 and is a really exciting young player.

“I know he is very highly rated over in France so we are delighted to get this deal over the line.”

Veretout would later claim that he “didn’t have any dialogue with” Sherwood. He joined Saint-Etienne on loan in summer 2016 before moving permanently to Fiorentina the following year, then Roma in 2019.

He also has five caps for France. But not the respect of Tim Sherwood.