Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte isn't done yet as the club close in on their seventh signing of the summer transfer window...

What's the word?

According to The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare, the Italian head coach is wanting an eighth arrival in the form of a creative midfielder in the Christian Eriksen mould.

"I think he wants that other option. He wants that attacking midfielder because he doesn’t really have that. You know, they don’t have someone to unlock a deep-lying defence in the way they used to have with someone like Christian Eriksen," the reliable journalist revealed to GIVEMESPORT.

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"Their threat largely comes from the flanks through either the wide forwards or the wing-backs. Obviously, he’s brought in [Ivan] Perisic and I think Perisic offers exactly the kind of threat he wants from his wing-backs."

Spurs are thought to be on the verge of signing Udinese left wing-back Destiny Udogie in a deal that would see him remain at the Serie A outfit on loan for the season, having already signed the likes of Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Djed Spence and Clement Lenglet.

Paratici must act

It is perhaps little surprise, therefore, to see the north Londoners linked to an array of names that could fill this void.

They range from Leicester City playmaker James Maddison, who just like Eriksen is a wiz on set-pieces, to AS Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo, who just enjoyed a standout year under ex-Spurs boss Jose Mourinho.

Lucas Paqueta of Lyon has also been touted in recent months, as well as the Dane himself but instead of a return to the club where he spent seven years, he opted for a new challenge in Manchester United instead.

Conte's desire to find a new creative presence shouldn't come as a shock either as he is certainly lacking in the role.

Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso, Tottenham's two £55m then club-record signings, are thought to be available for transfer after a disappointing three years in N17. Neither have provided any of the last four managers with the creativity required to replace Eriksen and the latter was even touted as his replacement by some.

In the end, the pair combined for no more than 15 assists across three seasons. By comparison, mooted target Maddison delivered 12 assists (and 18 goals) last season alone, so that only goes to show how much of an instant upgrade he'd be.

Whether it be the Foxes gem or someone else, it's clear that sporting director Fabio Paratici must now act to deliver one last time for his manager, with less than three weeks to go until deadline day.

Conte needs a creative influence as the final piece of the puzzle and it would be foolish for both the Italian chief and the club's hierarchy to deliver, given their firm backing of him so far.

AND in other news, Conte eyeing 5th exit of the summer, it could be bye-bye to "very lazy" Spurs flop...