Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has stressed that he wants this season to be the last that he is solely focused on securing a spot in the top four.
A serial winner with Juventus, Chelsea and Inter, Conte joined Spurs midway through the season after the slow start under Nuno Espirito Santo threatened to derail their campaign early on, and while improvement has been clear to see, so too has the gap between the team's current level and where Conte wants them to be.
The boss furiously hit out at 'fake news' suggesting he could jump ship to Paris Saint-Germain to take over a ready-made title contender, but he also warned Spurs that he does not plan to spend too much of his career at a club which cannot match his ambition.
“In this moment I have to be honest with you. In this moment, our minds, me, the club and the players have to be focused on the last five games,” Conte said.
“For sure, I said to you a lot of times, at the end of the season we speak with the club but with pleasure, in a really good way. To speak and try to find the best solution for everybody. This has to be clear, this.
“I repeat, don’t forget I like to have ambition, not only to fight for a place in Champions League or a place in UEFA (Europa) League.
“I think that, honestly, I want to fight for much more, you understand? For much more. I think also I deserve to do this.”
Listen now to 90min's brand new podcast, Talking Transfers, with Scott Saunders & Graeme Bailey. Toby Cudworth joins the show again this week to discuss how Erik ten Hag's appointment may affect Man Utd's pursuit of Paul Mitchell. There is also chat on the futures of Jesse Lingard & David de Gea and a look at what Newcastle are planning this summer.
90min understands that Spurs are confident of keeping Conte beyond this season, with plans already in place to try and back the Italian in the transfer market.
One such target is Christian Eriksen, the Brentford playmaker and Spurs hero. Sources have confirmed that the Dane is keen for a reunion with Conte, who he worked alongside at Inter, and there is optimism at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that a deal can be done.
Source : 90min