Tottenham Hotspur were reportedly close to securing the midfielder’s signature 18 months ago.
Lyon ace Pape Cheikh sat down for an exclusive interview with Spanish media outlet AS, and claimed that he nearly joined Tottenham in the summer of 2017, before eventually moving to the Olympic Stadium from Celta Vigo.
The 21-year-old joined Lyon instead of Spurs, for a fee believed to be worth €14 million (£12 million), according to ESPN, including add-ons, and the midfielder has gone on to rack up 25 appearances in all competitions for the French giants.
Sky Sports reported in August 2017 that Tottenham were closing in on a deal to sign the then 19-year-old, but that move obviously failed to materialise.
And Cheikh spoke exclusively to AS yesterday, admitting that he chose a move to Lyon in spite of the fact that Spurs were a bigger name at the time:
“It was a hard decision. Tottenham also wanted me and the truth that their name sounded louder… but the idea of Lyon attracted me. I knew it was a club that works with young people, you work with them, they help you grow. And I think I guessed right.”
Tottenham have not signed a single player since the addition of Lucas Moura in January 2018, and that will surely have to change in the summer, if Mauricio Pochettino is to guide his side to major honours over the course of the next few years.
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