Spurs were hoping to sign La Liga star Geoffrey Kondogbia but have now turned their attention towards Napoli midfielder Amadou Diawara.
It looked as if Tottenham Hotspur had their heart set on Geoffrey Kondogbia as the long-term replacement for Mousa Dembele.
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has long been an admirer of the rangy French enforcer and, according to Sky Sports, was planning to go all out to lure Kondogbia to North London with Dembele’s influence on the wane and his contract running down.
But it appears that Spurs, who missed out on the former Sevilla youngster when he swapped Monaco for Inter Milan in 2015, have been a little slow to react once again.
Because La Liga giants Valencia, when signing Kondogbia on loan from the San Siro this summer, struck an agreement to buy him at the end of the season if they so wish. Considering that the 24-year-old has found his very best form at the Mestalla, dominating La Liga midfielders with elegance and power, it appears unlikely that Los Che will let this chance pass them by.
And now it appears Tottenham have accepted defeat. Because Calcio Napoli 24 reports that Spurs have turned their attention towards Amadou Diawara; with a £33 million move being plotted for the 20-year-old.
Now, Diawara is not the same swashbuckling, box-to-box powerhouse who can turn defence into attack in an instant like Kondogbia. He’s not even one of the first names on Napoli’s team sheet with just three Serie A starts in 2017/18.
But the former Bologna youngster is a hugely intelligent midfielder who plays with a composure and a maturity well beyond his 20 years.
He is a malleable talent that would be putty in Pochettino’s hands. And while he may not be a like-for-like replacement for Dembele, Diawara could evolve into a truly world-class midfielder at Tottenham.
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