Tottenham Hotspur-linked Bundesliga sensation will be a highly coveted commodity in the summer transfer window.
Tottenham Hotspur are continuing to assess attacking options during the January transfer window, as Thomas Frank looks to reinforce his squad further.
Spurs announced the capture of young left-back Souza from Santos on Thursday evening. Souza has become the club’s second signing of the winter transfer window after the arrival of Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid last week. Yet, the Tottenham squad, decimated by injuries, looks light in certain areas of the pitch, prompting the club bosses to weigh up options.
There is an urgent need to resolve some glaring issues within the squad, and chief among them the lack of a natural left-winger. At the moment, Thomas Frank is relying heavily on Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel to provide flair, imagination and width from the left channel. However, the French duo have been inconsistent, which is quite understandable because they are still young and developing, while Brennan Johnson has been sold to Crystal Palace at the start of the month.
RB Leipzig’s valuation of Yan Diomande putting off clubs from making a bid this month
Thus, it comes as little surprise that the north Londoners have now shifted their focus towards securing a prolific left-winger after the acquisitions of Gallagher and Souza. Recent reports suggest RB Leipzig starlet Yan Diomande is among Tottenham’s top targets. The teenager, who is highly-regarded by Jurgen Klopp, has been a revelation in the Bundesliga following his last summer’s move from Spanish side CD Leganes.
He has quickly become an instrumental figure in RB Leipzig’s attack, bagging seven goals and four assists in 18 appearances in all competitions. Yan Diomande also enjoyed a fine AFCON, helping the Ivory Coast reach the quarter-finals before they were eliminated by Egypt. The speedy winger’s performances for RB Leipzig and the Ivory Coast have surprisingly gone unnoticed, with several clubs vying for his signature.
However, according to Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas, RB Leipzig’s £85m+ valuation of Diomande has put clubs off making a bid in this January transfer window. The African talent is more likely to be a focus in the summer as things stand, with Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool all among clubs monitoring his progress in the Bundesliga.
The £85m+ valuation reflects RB Leipzig’s negotiating position rather than the realistic market value. Ole Werner’s side cannot afford to lose one of its chief assets from his attacking unit while competing for Champions League qualification. Selling Diomande now would leave them scrambling for a worthy replacement, and finding one so late in the transfer window would be an uphill task.
Come summer, Diomande could be among the most coveted players. Tottenham are expected to be in the race for the Ivory Coast international’s signature, hoping to take advantage of their strong relationship with Leipzig after signing Xavi Simons last summer. However, it would be extremely difficult to secure the 19-year-old’s services due to him being on the radar of several European bigwigs.