Tottenham Hotspur may have made a winning start to their Premier League campaign but that does not hide the fact that the squad at the club needs a few additions if they are to compete for silverware this season. Mauricio Pochettino is looking to lure some of the finest talents in Europe to the club and one name now extensively linked with a move to North London is Pape Cheikh Diop.
Transfer story:
Pochettino has been desperately looking for a midfielder to add to his squad but the likes of Ross Barkley have eluded him so far. And it seems as if he has had enough as he has now turned his attention towards Celta Vigo star Pape Diop.
According to reports from the Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur are ready to shelve their interest in the Everton man and are looking to spend on the 20-year old, who Pochettino regards highly. So who is Diop and what can he bring to the squad?
Diop and his potential:
Born and brought up in Dakar, Senegal, the 20-year old moved to the Celta Academy in 2013 and in just a couple of years, he made it into the senior side, making his debut in La Liga as a teenager back in 2015. Ever since, he has been an important part of the squad, putting in some impressive performances regularly in a central midfield role.
Also capable of playing a holding role, Diop is an attacking minded midfielder who is known for his strength and hold up play in the middle of the park. Strong in the air and calm in possession, Diop is a playmaker who loves to dictate the game and at his age, he is already showing great maturity at the highest level.
He is pacey and hard to catch when in full flow but needs to work on his finishing and defensive contributions but is a player who Pochettino will love to have on his side.
The right man for Spurs?
Diop has 10 appearances for the Spanish U19 side and is not too far away from a place in the senior side. He is surely destined for greatness but it is not clear as to why he is the top transfer target for Spurs this summer.
Pochettino loves to spend on youngsters and turn them into superstars but that has not helped him recently with the likes of Vincent Janssen and Kevin N’Koudou. The lack of experienced and established stars in the first team has diminished their chances of lifting the title and they should now look at players who can add experience and winning mentality.
Diop is not yet a player who can do that but neither is Ross Barkley. However, the Everton man, who may cost more than the 20-year old Celta star, has previous experience in the Premier League and can walk into the first team, unlike Diop, who will take time to adjust to the conditions in England.
So, at the moment, Diop might be a smokescreen and the last roll of the dice by Pochettino to urge Everton to sell Barkley this summer. But do you think Spurs should sign the Spanish U19 star?
