Tottenham transfer news

ENGLAND fans already know only too well how cool Ivan Perisic is under pressure.Tottenham’s first signing this summer was the key man responsible for helping turn the 2018 World Cup semi-final in Croatia’s favour and break our hearts.
Ivan Perisic impressed on his first start for TottenhamCredit: Getty
Matheus Nunes also caught on the eye on debut for WolvesCredit: Getty
After Kieran Trippier’s early free-kick had given a nation a chance to dream, it was Perisic who levelled midway through the second half – before setting up Mario Mandzukic’s winner in extra-time.
So when Spurs were making hard work of Bruno Lage’s Wolves on Saturday, failing to have a shot until the 45th minute, prompting a few boos at half-time, Perisic was never going to be fazed on his first start.
It was the 33-year-old’s clever flick-on at the near post that gave Harry Kane a tap-in – or nod-in, would be more appropriate – for the matchwinner as Spurs won 1-0.
While his all-round performance showed just why Antonio Conte wanted to bring him to the club in the first place.
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At 33 and offering next to no resale value, Perisic is pretty much the opposite of the kind of player Tottenham have targeted in the past. 
Yet getting him through the door was understood to be significant to convincing Conte to stay this summer, after he had hinted he could walk if not properly backed.
It showed the club were willing to change their approach to satisfy the ex-Chelsea boss.
Conte knew exactly what he was getting in Perisic, having worked with him at Inter Milan where they won Serie A together the season before last.
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And despite his age, 58 games for club and country last term showed he had more than left in the tank to deal with the rigours of the Premier League.
Perisic had come off the bench for the first two games of the season, and fired in a trademark inswinging corner which set up Kane’s leveller last week at Chelsea in the sixth minute of injury time.
But after those cameos, this was a proper chance for fans to see what their name can offer.
First of all, Perisic looks to have the physicality to deal with England’s top flight, no problem.
He also knows Conte’s system so well from working under him that tactically he will not need a bedding-in period to slot into the team.
Though Ryan Sessegnon, who scored against Southampton in the curtain-raiser, will certainly have something to say over who gets the nod every week.
But it is also his quality and composure on the ball that may excite supporters most.
His first action inside four minutes was to float a ball over the top for Kane to run on to, and had the England captain taken a better touch, a half-chance would have come of it.
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Lage had seemingly planned to try to nullify Spurs’ wing-backs, with Pedro Neto essentially man-marking Perisic.
The Champions League winner also looked extremely capable in the air, often picking out a team-mate with a guided header to spark attacks.
With Spurs’ front three struggling to conjure much up – Son Heung-min had an off-day – it was a hopeful Perisic cross that led to Spurs finally having their first effort on goal just before the break.
It was a decent delivery stood up but the chance was all about Kane, who leapt above Nathan Collins and expertly directed a header towards the far corner which Jose Sa scrambled to tip away.
After the break, presumably after a Conte rocket at half-time, Spurs were much, much better.
Kane headed against the bar and Son against the post.
The pair then linked up, via middle-man Perisic, to notch the winner.
Son fired in a corner to the near post which Perisic cleverly flicked on at the near post and there was Kane to net his 185th Premier League goal, almost ten years to the day since his top-flight debut.
Perisic was given a standing ovation as he was replaced by Sessegnon on 75 minutes and looked to be walking gingerly at full-time after his exertions.
Other players may have wilted when the game seemed to be drifting frustratingly away from Spurs, but Perisic’s laser focus certainly went a long way to delivering the three points.
He was not the only player to be making his first start though.
Portugal international Matheus Nunes only joined from Sporting this week in a £38million deal but was thrown straight in.
It was an encouraging first display from the 23-year-old, sporting ‘Matheus N.’ on the back of his shirt.
If not one that lived up to the praise Pep Guardiola gave him last season when the Manchester City boss hailed him as one of the best players in the world.
Playing in front of Brazilian Ronaldo, who like Nunes was born in Rio de Janeiro, the midfielder had good strength, ability and eager to shoot on occasion.
Just before Perisic had teed up Kane’s chance at the end of the first half, Nunes came agonisingly close to a debut goal as he flicked Ruben Neves’ floated delivery just wide.
All round it was a display that suggested Wolves have spent a serious amount of bread well on a player who just three years ago was still working in his parents’ Lisbon bakery. More

ANTONIO CONTE hailed Richarlison for making Tottenham nastier – and could unleash the Brazilian in a fearsome front FOUR from the start of some matches.Forward Richarlison, 25, joined Spurs from Everton in a £60million deal this summer.
Richarlison celebrates with his new Spurs team-mates after Kane’s levellerCredit: Getty
Kane gives Richarlison a hug after securing a 2-2 draw at Stamford BridgeCredit: AP
Richarlison joined Tottenham from Everton for £60million this summerCredit: PA
His ability to get under opponents’ skin was seen as an attractive quality to Conte, who wanted to make his team more streetwise this season.
Richarlison was a complete nuisance to the Chelsea defence when making his debut as a second-half substitute in Sunday’s fiery 2-2 at Stamford Bridge.
His pest-like qualities helped Spurs battle back into the game, as Conte sprung a surprise by substituting Ryan Sessegnon for the forward, rather than Dejan Kulusevski or Son Heung-min.
It meant that Tottenham’s team were suddenly boasting Harry Kane, Son, Kulusevski AND Richarlison in an unexpected 4-2-4 for most of the second half.
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Speaking ahead of Saturday’s hosting of Wolves, Conte said: “For sure Richy is a player that made us focussed, nasty. He’s a player I like.
“He’s always into the training session with his mind. For us I think this is a good sign.
“We are working also on the tactical aspect because the season will be long and there are many games that we have to play also with four strikers.
“In the end at Chelsea, we played with Lucas Moura as wing-back, (Ivan) Perisic – we are talking about in the past a striker -, Richarlison, Kulusevski, Sonny (and Kane).
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“But to do this, it’s important to have organisation in the tactical aspect.”
What Conte meant by that is that if his side are going to go so attacking, they need to ensure they are not left wide open at the back.
That gung-ho approach helped Spurs get back into the game as Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg chalked off Kalidou Koulibaly’s early stunner.
But it did leave gaps on the counter-attack, which allowed Reece James to put Chelsea back ahead in the 77th minute with what looked like being the winner.
That was before Kane headed home Perisic’s corner in the sixth minute of injury time, sparking celebrations so wild that Conte and Thomas Tuchel clashed and were both sent off.
Elaborating on playing with four forwards, Conte added: “The problem could be for the others (the opposition) when you have the ball, but without the ball also we must not lose the balance.
“The second goal we conceded against Chelsea, I think that we lost a bit of balance. 
“We have to try to improve because for me to play with four strikers can become a good option during the game, and to start some games.
“The most important thing is that the four strikers want to run and to make sacrifices without the ball. This is very important.
“But I have players with good stamina, with good quality and we are working also on this aspect.”
Tottenham were once known for being a little too nice.
But that accusation can no longer be laid at their door, particularly with battling players like Richarlison and Cristian Romero in their squad.
Tuchel felt Romero should have been sent off moments before Kane’s goal at Chelsea for tugging Marc Cucurella’s hair.
Romero got away with that one, but does miss Saturday’s early kick-off with an adductor problem that could see him sidelined for another few weeks.
Conte added: “About Cristian, I speak a lot with him. For sure, he’s a player who’s really strong physically. 
“He has no fear of anyone but for sure he has to be always really focussed to understand the situation, to try to always be better, to improve the situations he needs to improve. 
“But I speak a lot with him, I speak a lot with my players about being strong – but always in a good way.”
The Spurs boss seemed to be suggesting Romero may have overstepped the mark with his hair-tug.
But overall he is in favour of his team becoming nastier – because that is a streak most winning teams possess.
The Italian added: “To be nasty is very important. Very important. 
“It means that you need to feel the blood of your opponent and try in a sporting way to kill your opponent. 
“You have to understand, when you go to play a game, you can draw also. 
“But at the same time you have to understand if the draw is a success for you or if the draw is (like) a loss. 
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“If you want to have ambition, I think you have to think only to get three points and the draw is half a loss for me.”
Likely line-up: Lloris; Sanchez, Dier, Davies; Royal, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon; Kulusevski, Kane, Son. More