Reports from Italy indicate that Tottenham Hotspur have offered the €30million asking price for Lazio winger Keita Balde Diao. According to Italian newspaper Corriere Dello Sport, the Lilywhites are looking to usurp Juventus in the race for his signature.
The Senegalese international has been one of the success stories of Serie A last season and Lazio do not want to sell to a local rival. They are encouraging the player to join Spurs although the player is interested in staying in Italy.
Juventus have offered only half the amount that Spurs have bid and hence Lazio want him to join Tottenham. He has not participated in the club’s training sessions so far as he tries to engineer a move away. Keita was missing from the action last weekend as Lazio started their Serie A campaign with a 0-0 draw against newly promoted SPAL. The winger who came through the youth ranks at Barcelona joined Lazio in 2011.
However, it was only last season that he had breakout performances and caught everyone’s attention. Overall, he has 16 goals in Serie A and has maintained a desire to play Champions League football.
There were reports earlier in the summer linking Keita Balde with a move to Tottenham and even indicated that he would be open to relocating to London. With Juventus in the mix, it could get a little tricky for Spurs, but by offering Lazio’s asking price, they are in the driving seat.
Keita can play anywhere across the front line and his versatility should appeal to manager Mauricio Pochettino. The 22-year-old scored 16 goals and 3 assists in 31 Serie A matches last season with more than two-shots per game.
It looks for sure that he would leave Lazio but whether it would be to Turin or London is the question. Spurs are definitely in the driver’s seat with the bid and I hope that they can convince him to shun Juventus’ move.
After a quiet summer so far, the club’s transfer activity has increased. Davinson Sanchez has signed from Ajax, Paulo Gazzaniga has also arrived from Southampton and there are many other deals that are gaining traction.
Do you think Keita Balde Diao will move to Spurs?
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