Tottenham Hotspur boss Antonio Conte is keen for his club to sign a new number 10 during this summer's transfer window to push Harry Kane further up the field.
The England captain struggled to show his top form in the first half of the 2021-22 campaign but has been back to his best in recent months, playing a leading role in his side's push into the top four in the Premier League.
Kane has been dropping deeper in recent games, providing five assists in his last three Premier League appearances, but he has only netted 12 times in the league this term.
Conte has said that the 28-year-old "was born a striker", and the Italian is keen for him to return to playing closer to the penalty box next season.
"Harry, he was born a striker. But he has the talent and quality to play like a number 10 with another striker in front of him," Conte told reporters.
"But I like to have him as a striker and then eventually another number 10. Two different players with different characteristics. Honestly I prefer Harry as a number nine, because when he stays into the box or the edge of the box he has great quality, right, left, also with a header, he has great potential.
"But sometimes when he goes back and creates space for Sonny [Son Heung-min], Lucas Moura and (Steven) Bergwijn, and [Dejan] Kulusevski, and also the wing-backs, it's important to have different options, otherwise you are predictable. And in modern football your team has to be unpredictable."
Kane has scored 22 goals and registered nine assists in 43 appearances for Spurs this season.
Matt Law
