Tottenham Hotspur fans will love the latest claim surrounding Antonio Conte...

What's the word?

It was a ruthless January transfer window for the north London outfit as it was very much more about the outgoings than the incomings but either way, it truly signalled the start of the Italian's era at the club.

Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur were his only signings in a whirlwind deadline day, both signing from sporting director Fabio Paratici's former club, Juventus.

Meanwhile, the bulk of the deadwood was shifted on - largely on loan - as club-record flop Tanguy Ndombele returned to Lyon, whilst Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil were shipped back to Spain, with Dele Alli being the only permanent exit as he joined top-flight rivals, Everton.

There were fears emerging throughout the window that Conte could walk if he wasn't sufficiently backed by the board and on the face of it, only two signings would leave that situation somewhat in the lurch.

However, new claims behind the scenes suggest that he's very pleased with the business Spurs have conducted - as revealed by the ever-reliable Alasdair Gold of football.london, who wrote:

'While all managers will always want more in a transfer window, and Conte is no different, those around the Italian have told football.london that he is content with the early changes made at his behest in his first transfer window.'

Very encouraging

Conte may be left with a smaller squad but he's got two solid additions in Kulusevski and Bentancur, and is likely to be left with a more harmonious dressing room, one full of players who are fully behind his relentless ethic on the training pitch.

There is an acceptance that the summer will be the window to truly transform things right across the club and you're inclined to agree. Truth be told, it'll take many more windows to elevate Spurs back into the Champions League equation.

It is a good start as the bulk of the players that saw the exit door on deadline day were rarely featuring under the Italian anyway.

Supporters can now rest at ease about their world-class coach as he truly appears to be in it for the long haul and considering he's already worked his magic - losing just one league game since his arrival in November - then Gold's update will be music to the ears of many.

Such fears can now be forgotten with Spurs just two points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United, whom they hold two games in hand over, too.

Conte's refreshed squad returns to action on Saturday evening, where they face Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup fourth round, their final chance of securing instant silverware under the former Chelsea boss.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano reveals gutting Spurs transfer update late on deadline day...