Tottenham fans are still waiting to get their summer signing but reports indicate that it may not be long before we have one. According to The Daily Mail, Tottenham are ready to bid for the services of Celta Vigo midfielder Pape Chiekh Diop, who has a release clause of £25m.
ESPN’s correspondent Dan Kilpatrick who covers Spurs, has also indicated on Twitter, that the club has been keen on Diop all through the summer and are now ramping up efforts with an initial move.
#thfc Spurs working to sign Celta Vigo's Pape Chiekh Diop, 20. They've been interested in him all summer & now making a move.
— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) August 11, 2017
Who Is Diop?
The 20-year-old Spain youth international midfielder has caught the eye with his athletic box-to-box performances for Celta Vigo. He was born in Senegal but has been raised in Spain, and made 19 appearances for his club last year.
Only five of these were starts in La Liga but the Spanish Under-19 midfielder is considered one of the most promising prospects in the entire country. Celta Vigo finished 13th last season and reached the semi-finals of the Europa League where they lost to Manchester United.
Tottenham’s Interest
Mauricio Pochettino likes the youngster and feels that he has the right physical and technical attributes to make a name in the Premier League. The view inside White Hart Lane is that the player has similarities to Dele Alli in terms of his style and stature at the age that Alli signed for Spurs from Milton Keynes Dons. The central midfielder was courted all summer and the club is hopeful of concluding a deal by next week.
Not So Easy
However, it wouldn’t be a cakewalk for Spurs. The central midfielder signed a new contract with the club in January that has tied him up until 2021, although that’s not a deterrent for a Spurs bid.
Tottenham have competition though, in the form of Ligue1 side Lyon, who are searching for a long-term successor to Corentin Tolisso who was sold to Bayern Munich in the summer.
A move to France could definitely appeal to Diop as he plans the next step in his development. Lyon can definitely offer him more game-time than Spurs as the midfield at Tottenham is well-stacked up with Victor Wanyama, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier and Harry Winks ahead of him in the pecking order.
But, Pochettino remains confident of making Diop his first summer signing.
What do you think?
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