---
title: "Tottenham: Antonio Conte can’t stop eyeing Chris Smalling"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-chris-smalling-transfer-rumours/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dominic Lund"
section: "Premier League News"
published: "2022-12-13T11:41:10Z"
modified: "2022-12-13T11:41:10Z"
---

# Tottenham: Antonio Conte can’t stop eyeing Chris Smalling

**[Tottenham Hotspur](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-hotspur-news/) are now considering a move for AS Roma defender Chris Smalling.**

### The Lowdown: Tottenham’s defensive issues

Tottenham have made a fairly promising start to the season, currently [fourth](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) in the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) table, and through to the last 16 of the Champions League, but one glaring issue has been the defence.

Antonio Conte’s side have a record at the back akin to a side in the bottom half, with [21](https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/clubs/goals_conceded) goals conceded, and this twice came close to costing them before the break for the World Cup, just about managing a 3-2 away win at Bournemouth and a 4-3 victory at home to Leeds United.

Although they have largely managed to get away with a poor record at the back so far, the manager has now identified the need for a new centre-back.

[Tottenham latest news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/tottenham-latest-news-3/)

### The Latest: Conte obsessed with Smalling

As per [CalcioMercato](https://www.calciomercatoweb.it/2022/12/11/calciomercato-inter-de-vrij-rinnovo-juventus-tottenham-smalling-roma/), Conte ‘doesn’t stop thinking about’ signing former Manchester United defender Chris Smalling as an alternative to Stefan de Vrij.

This deal would likely have to be on a pre-contract agreement for next season, as the defender’s deal currently set to [expire](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/chris-smalling/profil/spieler/103427) in 2023, with the Italian identifying him as one of his first choices due to his good form in the Serie A.

### The Verdict: Get it done?

Given that the [£83k](https://salarysport.com/football/player/chris-smalling/)-per-week earner is now 33, he would not be a long-term mainstay in the Spurs defence, but he could be a worthwhile signing on a free transfer, providing some depth for Conte, which would be helpful when trying to compete in four competitions.

The enforcer has been lauded as ‘[outstanding](https://twitter.com/Buntingfootball/status/1529568142648909841?s=20&t=vVLy9m8EpEou7JYB2GksLw)‘ for his form in Rome by journalist Josh Bunting, and he has proven to be absolutely vital in Jose Mourinho’s side this season, featuring in all [15](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/chris-smalling/leistungsdaten/spieler/103427) of their Serie A games up to this point, also displaying his threat in the box by contributing three goals.

In truth, Tottenham could do with another younger centre-back to compete for a place in the starting lineup, with the likes of Josko Gvardiol being [linked](https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/calcio-estero/tmw-perisic-in-missione-per-conte-in-estate-il-tottenham-dara-l-assalto-a-josko-gvardiol-1761982), but Smalling would be a solid rotation option for Conte to have.