Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers reportedly want Lyon’s Ligue 1 star Lucas Tousart – France’s U21 captain.
France were supposed to have the most well-drilled defence in the entire U21 European Championships. That theory went out the window on Thursday night, however.
Sylvain Ripoll’s side were made to look like a collection of ill-disciplined schoolboys by a brilliant Spain side who ripped them apart again and again, inspired by West Ham newbie Pablo Fornals.
The semi-final ended 4-1 in Spain’s favour. Yet while France’s back line will be wondering what on earth went wrong, no one could blame Lucas Tousart.
The French captain was their best player on the night, acting as almost a one-man barricade against a thrilling Spanish attack. The Lyon midfielder was tireless, tenacious and, if it wasn’t for him snapping into tackles and winning back possession, four goals could have become five or six.
Calciomercato claimed last week that Wolverhampton Wanderers were keen to bring Tousart to the Premier League for around £18 million (Birmingham Mail) and the 22-year-old’s latest display shows exactly why – despite the scoreline.
While Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho and Leander Dendoncker set the tempo and dominate games with their excellent distribution, Tousart is someone completely different. He is closer, in fact, to Romain Saiss than any of Wolves’ other midfielders – though he’d represent an upgrade on the Moroccan international.
He’d offer real steel in an otherwise silky midfield while providing Nuno Espirito Santo some much needed quality in reserve as Wolves look to challenge on domestic and European exploits next season.
Tousart sitting in front of Wolves’ settled and consistent back three is a nightmare for opposition attackers – as long as Willy Boly, Ryan Bennett and Conor Coady defend better than the French did last night.
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