Tottenham Hotspur are considering a summer move for Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita as a potential future replacement/partner for their midfield wall Moussa Dembele. The soon-to-be-30 Belgian is one of the oldest members in the Spurs first team and has a tendency to pick up injuries when pushed to the limit.
Keita, valued at around £26 million, is speculated to be interested in a move to England, with Liverpool reportedly interested in the 22-year-old. Keita would serve as an able back-up to Dembele, while also simultaneously learning the tricks of playing in the Premier League from the experienced Belgian.
Naby Keita is not a household name in football in England, but the young African has quietly attracted attention from the big boys in football with his consistent performances for high-flying Leipzig. The Guinea international moved from his hometown Horoya to France, where he signed with FC Istres in 2012. After a good season with Istres in Ligue 2, he was snapped up by Austrian side Salzburg. In a successful 2 year spell, he notched up 17 goals in 59 matches for the club – a healthy return for a defensive midfielder. He was also declared the Austrian Bundesliga Player of the Year in his second season.
In the summer of 2016, RB Salzburg transferred him to its sister club RB Leipzig where he has made 27 appearances in which he has scored 8 goals, most notably, the winning goal against Borussia Dortmund.
Keita is a young talent and he is likely to spend his first few seasons warming the bench, playing second fiddle to Dembele at White Hart Lane. But, this period would help him get accustomed to the English game and could prove to be what he needs to become exactly the player Spurs need.
