Time is ticking, Daniel Levy. There are just days left until the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month, and there is still business to be done. Whether or not Antonio Conte remains as his manager may depend solely on this.
In recent weeks, Conte has resembled an agitated and frustrated figure on the touchline. That dismay with the state of the task in his hands will surely extend to off-field matters, too, and the onus is now on the chairman to act.
After Spurs' limp 2-0 defeat by Chelsea, Jamie Redknapp voiced his concern that Conte may walk away if he is not backed by those above him. Currently, that doesn't seem like a far away fantasy, with the Italian renowned for his demanding nature.
Antonio Conte will need to be backed this month if he is to haul Tottenham into the top four
Spurs lost 2-0 at Chelsea at the weekend, a result that emphasised the gap between the rivals
'He needs players. There must have been an agreement between him and Daniel Levy they'd bring in the players he needs,' Redknapp told Sky Sports.
'He's done a great job to get in this position. There's a massive gulf between Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea and the rest you can see it.
'Tottenham are so close to get into the top four, no other manager could have done in this position.
'But he needs backing he needs to get players in.
Daniel Levy will be forced to break open his chequebook, with Conte keen for reinforcements
'Two, three, four players in and he's got nine days in the window to do it. Daniel Levy is a difficult man for managers to deal with.
'If you don't back him (Conte) you look at his history with Inter Milan, I think he'll leave the club because you can't promise and then not deliver.'
The result served only to underline the gulf in class between both clubs. That will hurt Conte, perhaps more than most, in light of his past history at Chelsea.
Thomas Tuchel's side, of course, are the current Champions League holders and, until their recent wobble, looked on course to push for the Premier League title.
Conte enjoyed a superb start in the Premier League at Spurs, but will be desperate to kick on
On the other hand, Spurs have a mishmash squad, players with little winning experience and a reluctance to splash the cash when it is needed. That is the gap Conte must bridge, but he will need Levy to thrust his hand into his pockets.
Conte himself has highlighted the difference between Tottenham and their rivals, and highlighted that the project at the club is long-term. There is no quick fix, and he is under no illusions that the road ahead may continue to get rockier.
'This is not the right moment to speak in front of the media,' he said after the loss by Chelsea. 'The club know very well what I think and the time that we need to close this gap - there is not one transfer market to close the gap.
'In the last few years, this gap became very, very big and now it is not simple to find a solution in a short time and for this reason, I'm only focused on working with the players until the end. Then, we will see.
Spurs may look to bring in a new wing back, central midfielder and forward in this window
'We have four months to try to give everything, but if we think we will solve it with this transfer window, it is not the reality. You need many years, but for sure you have to
