Peruvian journalist Diego Montalvan insists that there is truth to reports linking Premier League duo Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal with Jhilmar Lora, writing on Twitter.
It was one step forwards followed by a massive stumble in the other direction. The story not just of Tottenham’s season but of Matt Doherty’s Spurs career as a whole.
On Saturday, the former Wolves flyer scored his first ever goal in Tottenham colours. Three days later, he lashed over the bar with an open net at his mercy as a side not even the code-cracking Antonio Conte can figure out were consigned to yet another trophyless season by Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.
Last season, as Conte guided Inter Milan to their first Serie A title in a decade, he had arguably the finest right-back in world football at his disposal. Achraf Hakimi, the Human Bullet Train.
It’s fair to say neither Doherty nor the equally maligned Emerson Royal can hold a candle to a man who, at 23, has already represented Inter Milan, PSG, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.
Is Jhilmar Lora heading to the Premier Legue?
Whether Jhilmar Lora is viewed as an immediate replacement for Doherty and Emerson – or ‘one for the future’ instead – remains to be seen. The Peru international is just 21 years of age after all.
Then again, two of the other right-siders on Spurs’ radar, Isaiah Jones and Djed Spence, are hardly on the ‘experienced’ side either.
According to Planet Sport, Tottenham are keeping tabs on Sporting Cristal’s Lora. As are Arsenal, Everton, Crystal Palace, Brentford and Brighton.
“Spoke to some colleagues in England and, yes, it is true!” Mondalvan writes. “Arsenal and Tottenham are monitoring Jhilmar Lora!
“But that’s it. Both clubs are looking at many players in South America. We will have to wait until there’s something concrete.”
Peru-based publication Depor claimed in December that Sporting Cristal value Lora at less than £1 million. Don’t be surprised, given the emergence of Premier League interest, if Lora’s price-tag goes through the roof over the coming months.
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