Tottenham want to secure Antonio Conte’s future and intend to open contract talks with their head coach next month.
Spurs are aiming to commence discussions with their boss, whose current deal expires at the end of the season, around the World Cup and are preparing to offer the Italian an extension.
The north London club already have an option to extend Conte’s contract by 12 months, but Tottenham would prefer to tie the former Chelsea manager down to a longer contract that would include a rise on his current £13million salary.
But while Spurs would rather secure Conte to a brand new deal, club officials will discuss the possibility of triggering the year’s option when they sit down in a few weeks.
Conte’s impact at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since his arrival last November has been profound.
The team appeared to be heading for mediocrity under Nuno Espirito Santo, but Conte has transformed the team’s fortunes guiding the club to Champions League qualification last season.
As Tottenham head into Saturday’s clash against Everton, they sit third in the Premier League table having lost just once this season.
They are also top of their Champions League group and look on course to qualify for the last 16. Spurs have lost just three games in all competitions since March.
And having backed Conte in during the summer transfer window, the club are preparing to make a major commitment to the 53-year-old by offering him a huge new contract.
The Italian worked closely alongside managing director of football Fabio Paratici to significantly improve the Tottenham squad.
Conte and Paratici, who has also impressed Tottenham chiefs since his arrival at the start of last season, share a close working relationship with the pair’s influence at the club vital towards their improvement on the pitch.
However, Conte will need to be persuaded about the club’s ambition to compete at the very top of domestic and European football if he is to commit to a longer term deal.
The coveted coach is known to be happy with the progress the team has made during his tenure at Spurs, and recognises the role the club’s hierarchy has played in achieving relative success by breaking back into the top-four last season.
But there remains a sense that Tottenham have someway to go before they can realistically compete for major trophies, and talks over a new deal are likely to centre how the club intend to ensure they can reduce the gap to the top.