Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made enquiries to sign Nice’s Ligue 1 flyer Youcef Atal.
It feels like a long time since Kieran Trippier was starring for England at the World Cup, producing world-class crosses and firing free-kicks into the top corner.
Because since returning to the comparative bread and butter of club football, the Tottenham Hotspur defender has looked a shadow of his former self.
The 28-year-old was far below his best in Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Ajax, producing the kind of performance that has seen him linked with a summer exit. The Standard reports that manager Mauricio Pochettino would even be willing to sell Trippier if an acceptable offer arrives.
And it seems Spurs may have identified a replacement.
According to the Telegraph, the North London giants have made an enquiry about highly-rated Nice flyer Youcef Atal, who is expected to cost around £34 million.
The Algerian international has shone for Patrick Vieira’s side in Ligue 1 and even scored a hat-trick from right-back in a 3-0 thrashing of Guingamp at the weekend. That took Atal’s tally to six for the campaign.
At just 22, Atal is six years younger than Trippier, too. So the looks as if the former Burnley stalwart needs a strong end to the season if he is to save his Tottenham career.
The clock is ticking.
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