Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with another inexperienced wide man.
According to a report from French broadcaster TF1, Tottenham Hotspur are keen on bringing Monaco youngster Allan Saint-Maximin to North London this summer, but when will the club learn that pursuing young French-based wingers just might not be for them?
Clinton N’Jie was rarely given a chance under Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino before being shipped off to Marseille, while the prolonged pursuit of Georges-Kevin N’Koudou a year later seems bizarre in hindsight given the latter’s failure to have any significant impact at White Hart Lane.
Saint-Maximin is only 20, but his return of three goals and three assists in 36 appearances for loan club Bastia last season hardly sets pulses racing, and in truth Tottenham should be focusing on far more experienced alternatives.
There is one winger at Monaco that Tottenham should be going all out to sign and it is not a fringe player yet to make a senior appearance for the Ligue 1 champions; it is Thomas Lemar, whose return of 14 goals and 17 assists last season proved his quality.
The problem for Tottenham is that the great and the good of the game are looking at the 21-year-old. However if Spurs are hellbent on signing wingers from France, they should be focusing on the best of the best, not taking a risk for a third successive summer.
Saint-Maximin may be cheap and he may fit the mould of a Tottenham signing – young, relatively cheap and with the potential to increase in value – but Levy should be thinking bigger now.
N’Jie was a risk that went wrong, while despite showing glimpses of his talent N’Koudou’s future seems to be away from North London, but if Tottenham sign Saint-Maximin and he proves to be yet enough dud, Pochettino and Levy will have no one to blame but themselves.
It is time Spurs aimed higher, especially in one of the few areas of the field where they need to significantly strengthen.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
