Lille captain Jose Fonte is not surprised to see Sven Botman linked with Premier League giants Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, telling talkSPORT that the Dutchman is a ‘top player’.
Left-sided central defenders are like hens’ teeth.
So, when one bursts onto the scene, it is usually not long before they start to get noticed.
Former Ajax youngster Botman was plying his trade on loan at Heerenveen this time 12 months ago but, since moving to France over the summer, has emerged as the rock at the back of a title-chasing Lille side.
His expert reading of the game and impressive passing range have caught the eye, with FootMercato reporting that Liverpool are taking a keen interest.
As are a Spurs side who, much to Jose Mourinho’s chagrin, committed a whole host of individual errors during 5-4 and 3-0 defeats in the last two matchdays (Fabrizio Romano).
“(Botman) is a top player,” said Fonte, the former West Ham and Southampton stopper.
“I must say I was surprised when he first arrived. I wasn’t expecting this level of quality, I was expecting a youngster with potential, but the guy is very composed; he’s mature for his age.
“He’s a defender, and by that I mean he likes to defend; he likes to play simple, he’s strong, he’s tall, he wins his duels, he doesn’t overcomplicate the game, he’s good on the ball, left-footed.
“He’s been doing extremely well since he arrived so yeah, no wonder there’s interest in him. It doesn’t surprise me [the links to Liverpool], not at all.
“You can be sure he can play at the highest level.”
Understandably, Fonte is keen to see a defender some 16 years his junior stick around and help Lille knock PSG off their gilded perch.
But Les Dogues have a history when it comes to selling their star players, with Gabriel Magalhaes, Nicolas Pepe, Gervinho and Eden Hazard all moving across the Channel.
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