Paris Saint-Germain’s Thomas Meunier claims Middlesbrough, Tottenham and West Ham United all made offers to sign him last summer.
Barcelona’s Neymar in action with Paris Saint-Germain’s Thomas Meunier
Paris Saint-Germain right back Thomas Meunier has told Telefoot that he had offers to join Tottenham and West Ham United over the summer – but he eventually chose PSG instead.
Whilst the Belgian national team have been praised for the strength of their squad in recent years, both full back positions have been problem areas, leading to Tottenham centre backs Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen being used out of position.
At Euro 2016, manager Marc Wilmots tested veteran Laurent Ciman at right back, but immediately lost 2-0 to Italy, prompting him to finally start Belgium’s best right back – Thomas Meunier.
Then of Club Brugge, the 25-year-old impressed in wins over Ireland, Sweden and Hungary, before Wales dumped Belgium out of the competition, with Meunier earning a big move off the back of his displays.
With height, strength, pace and good delivery, Meunier proved himself as an all-round full back, and Paris Saint-Germain swooped to sign him, with many expecting him to simply serve as a backup to Ivorian ace Serge Aurier.
However, Meunier has played a prominent role this term, making 26 appearances in all competitions, including four Champions League starts, having notched an assist in the recent 4-0 win over Barcelona.
Now, Meunier has commented on how his move to the Parc des Princes came about, telling Telefoot that he had offers from Middlesbrough, West Ham and Tottenham, as well as Napoli, but chose PSG as they offered him the best chance of Champions League success.
Thomas Meunier in action for Belgium at Euro 2016
“I had a choice between six or seven clubs that were really serious with their offers,” said Meunier. “Most of them came from England: West Ham, Middlesbrough, there was Tottenham at one point. In Italy, there was Napoli, where I was truly very close to signing. And then, finally, PSG entered into the race and I had a greater chance of making it in the Champions League with them than with Napoli,” he added.
It’s easy to see where Meunier would have fit in at Middlesbrough or West Ham, as they have both used a number of players at right back this season, but the links to Tottenham are somewhat more surprising.
Spurs already have one of the best right backs in Europe in Kyle Walker, whilst his backup, Kieran Trippier, would almost certainly start for most other Premier League teams, meaning it’s hard to see where Meunier would have fit in at White Hart Lane.
Joining up with fellow Belgian defenders Alderweireld and Vertonghen may have been appealing, but unless a deal was being lined up for Walker or Trippier to leave the club, it’s hard to see why Spurs would have pushed for Meunier, as he claims.
Would you have liked to see Middlesbrough, West Ham or Spurs sign Meunier?
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