According to reliable journalist Pete O’Rourke, Lucas Paqueta would be a ‘more exciting signing’ for Tottenham Hotspur than James Garner.

The Lowdown: Conte’s wish-list

The Evening Standard reported last month that Antonio Conte is keen to sign a creative midfielder before September's deadline, with 24-year-old Paqueta a player who the Lilywhites have been tracking for a while, as per Football.London.

Another attacking maestro on the boss’ wish-list is Garner from Premier League rivals Manchester United, after being told that he is free to leave the Red Devils this summer, with Spurs scouts even having watched him in action.

The Latest: O’Rourke’s Paqueta praise

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke insisted that Paqueta would be able to offer more than Garner if he was to put pen to paper in N17.

“It’d be a more exciting signing, I think, for Spurs fans if they were to get Paqueta, who’s a more attacking midfielder as well than James Garner is.”

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The Verdict: Waste of money?

As talented as Paqueta is, a move for the Brazilian should not be one that Fabio Paratici is considering making at this moment in time.

The Ligue 1 ace has been recently valued at £33m by Lyon, but Conte plays with a 3-4-3 formation and would need to change to a 3-5-2 should he add a creative midfielder to his ranks, something unlikely to happen given he’s used his natural system all season and has the perfect front three to make it work.

For someone who would be sat on the bench as a result, it’s not worth Spurs splashing the cash on Paqueta, who’d be no more than a bit-part or rotational player.

Conte and Paratici should instead be looking for a young player who's happy to play a squad role to begin with and possibly force their way in over time.