Antonio Conte wants to spend big this January and he could find his perfect wing-back at Tottenham Hotspur in Tariq Lamptey...

What's the word?

According to the Express, the north London outfit are ready to battle their arch-rivals to the signature of the Brighton and Hove Albion star this month.

After picking up a long-term injury, the 21-year-old dynamo has quickly re-established his place in Graham Potter's side and is now attracting interest from both Spurs and Arsenal.

Conte is expected to offload Matt Doherty before the transfer deadline and is now looking at Lamptey as a potential replacement, though the summer window seems more plausible as Albion want around £50m to let him go.

Perfect fit

Given the Italian's system at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Lamptey would surely be an absolute dream for Conte, especially if Doherty does move on this window.

And with Emerson Royal's form being a little inconsistent, the England U21 international should not find it hard to break into the starting XI upon arrival.

Since his breakthrough in 2019, the £16.2m-rated dynamo has averaged 3.3 dribbles, 2.5 tackles, 1.8 interceptions and 1.1 key passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League, per WhoScored, who also state his strengths as being his short passing and dribbling - two key components for a wing-back.

"Terrific prospect" and "phenomenal young talent" is how the Daily Mirror's chief football writer John Cross once described the marauding Seagulls defender, whilst his teammate Pascal Groß dubbed him a "special boy" and "top class" to talkSPORT.

At just 5 foot 4, he is a lightning-quick pocket rocket who has the ability to cause havoc in the top-flight, something that his manager has mentioned before.  “He is so fast. He has got the character, the attitude and the attributes that can affect games in the Premier League," he said (via The Athletic).

Conte's system thrives when a wing-back can do the business at either end of the pitch and it seems as if Lamptey fits the bill greatly, so sporting director Fabio Paratici must look to beat the Gunners to his signature.

£50m may be a hefty investment to make but on the above evidence, there won't be many better homegrown talents out there for that price.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano reveals Spurs "priority" in January...