Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy hopes to appease manager Antonio Conte with a move for Lille defender Botman.

The Daily Star says the Italian coach is still to be convinced that the club's hierarchy will back him, as promised, in the transfer market after a mixed January window.

And that makes the North Londoners' pursuit of a left-footed, left-sided centre-half - as Conte is demanding they get him - an absolute priority this summer.

Dutchman Botman, 22, fits the criteria perfectly - and the Tottenham boss has already given his seal of approval to targeting him.

Which is cranking up the pressure on his chairman Levy to strike a £30million deal with the French club before Newcastle do.

Most assume the Magpies, who narrowly failed to bring Botman to St James' Park last month, are favourites to succeed next time round - as long as they stay in the Premier League.