Antonio Conte fires warning to Tottenham days after Delle Ali departure

• Antonio Conte was critical of Tottenham for allowing four players to leave in the January transfer window, saying it was “not normal”
• The Italian warned the club against making the same mistakes in transfers as they did in the past
• The likes of Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Delle Alli all left the club on loan in January after being deemed surplus to requirements at Spurs

Antonio Conte has boldly stated that he was surprised by Tottenham’s January departures as the Italian fired a warning to the club’s bosses.

In the January transfer window, Tottenham let go of a number of players, including record-signing Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil who all left on loan.

All these three players cost the club money in signing them, something which Conte believes shows the club made mistakes in the past.

Speaking at a Press conference on Friday, February 4, the Tottenham boss said it was “strange” to allow players purchased for hefty prices to leave on loan.

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"Usually you buy players to reinforce your team,” he said as quoted by BBC.

"But if you send on loan after two or three years it is strange. It means that maybe in the past you have to see what you did and maybe to understand that there were some mistakes in the past.

"We have to pay more attention in the future when we go into the market. It becomes fundamental importance if we want to enforce the team, otherwise you drop the quality of your team."

Ndombele was purchased during the Jose Mourinho era, while Lo Celso was initially at the club on loan before being made a permanent signing as well.

Gil, who is now at Valencia, was acquired during the Nuno Espirito Santo era, and Conte believes letting four players go in the same transfer window is “not normal”.

Tottenham signings

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Despite the departures, the North London club has made reinforcements in the form of Dejan Kulusevski, who joined from Juventus on loan, while Rodrigo Bentancur also arrived on a permanent deal.

Both players are eligible to feature as early as in the FA Cup fourth round tie against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday, February 5.

Speaking on the two new signings, Conte said he was positive they “would help the club a lot”.

"For sure now the squad is more complete. We tried to fill the right role with a midfielder - Bentacur - and Kulusevski, who can play as number 10 or a wingback,” he said.

United leading in race to sign Araujo

In other transfer news, Manchester United are front runners in the race to sign Uruguay international Ronald Araujo from Barcelona.

Multiple reports indicate the Old Trafford club is preparing a massive bid for Araujo as he enters the final 18 months of his contract at the Nou Camp.

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Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool have all also expressed interest in the defender ahead of the summer transfer window.