Tottenham Hotspur could still make a summer move for long-term target Alessandro Bastoni...

What's the word?

That's according to ever-reliable football.london journalist Alasdair Gold, who has provided a recent update on the Lilywhites' ongoing interest in the Inter Milan centre-back.

When asked about a potential deal ahead of next season, the reporter said:

"Much depends on these new contract talks and whether Bastoni signs on at Inter again. Spurs have retained their interest in the Italy international and he is still among their top summer targets. Of course, with just a year left on his contract at that point, his price tag also drops a fair bit."

During last summer's window, Spurs were quoted around £54m for the Italy international and with his contract up in 2024, it is yet to be seen how much the Serie A giants would now command.

It would keep Conte happy

Much remains uncertain with first-team boss Antonio Conte and his future in north London heading into the end of the current campaign, where his time at the club is set to end.

That's because his contract is expiring and there has been no fresh reports over an extension, only some doubts from Italy over whether he'd want to stay at the club.

It's perhaps been his toughest test yet as a manager, having brought pretty instant success to the likes of Inter Milan and Chelsea over his coaching career yet here at Spurs, the ceiling seems to be the top four.

However, bringing in a signing of Bastoni's calibre could be exactly what chairman Daniel Levy needs to convince the Italian into sticking at it - not only is he hugely familiar with the 23-year-old, having won a Serie A title together at the San Siro, but also because he'd be a major and perfect piece for his back-three.

Once described as a "phenomenon" by Italian football expert Conor Clancy, Bastoni is currently Inter's second highest-rated centre-back in 2022/23 and ranks second for tackles and third for aerials won per game, via WhoScored.

The 6 foot 3 titan is a very effective ball-playing option as when compared to fellow centre-backs across Europe's elite divisions, he ranks inside the top 1% for assists and shot-creating actions, as well as the top 5% for progressive passes and progressive carries, meaning he's always looking to get himself or the ball forward to attack.

FBref also liken his statistical profile to two current Spurs stars in Ben Davies and Clement Lenglet, whilst he also has similarities to another transfer target in Piero Hincapie, so you can see why both Conte and the club would be so keen to sign him in the summer as he seems like an ideal fit.

Bastoni has also been compared to one of the Serie A's best-ever defenders. "He controls the opponent, space and with a refinement that has rarely been seen, reminds me of a young Bonucci," journalist Mario Sconcerti once claimed.

Also hailed as a "special talent" by writer Muhammed Butt, the Italian is a left-footer, so he'd fill the void in Conte's back three next to Eric Dier and Cristian Romero and given the above evidence, you'd imagine there are few better options for the role too.

As such, if Levy were to pull the trigger to sign Bastoni ahead of the summer, then you'd imagine his chances of keeping Conte at the club quickly increase.

It may not being going well now but if the 53-year-old is backed just a little bit more, he could bring Tottenham the silverware they are ever so desperate for.

AND in other news, Mourinho was right: Levy surely red-faced as Spurs could've had £45m "monster" for £6m...