Our View: £22m fee should put Tottenham chief Paratici on red alert, Newcastle keen

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Newcastle United are reportedly interested in signing Rennes wonderkid Jeremy Doku, with a fee of £22million being touted. But at such a low price, surely Tottenham should elbow the Toon aside and lure him to London?

Doku, 19, has endured a tricky 2021-22 campaign – with knee and hamstring injuries limiting him to just 12 appearances in all competitions. The Chronicle report, though, that Newcastle scouts are looking at the Belgian.

But he was excellent at Euro 2020 and boasts more potential than most players of his age around Europe. Indeed, he has already played the best part of 100 senior matches for Anderlecht, Rennes and Belgium combined.

Newcastle are expected to spend big in the summer and it appears Doku might be a man they look to bring in. But surely, at such a low price, there will be others interested in Doku – and Tottenham must be one of those.

At £22m, Tottenham should elbow Newcastle aside and sign Doku

Antonio Conte admitted his surprise and frustration at Tottenham’s decision to bring in just two players – after losing four. He also allured to Tottenham deciding to sign younger players, rather than experienced.

It is different to what he expects, but it is the blueprint put in place by Fabio Paratici. The Italian chief has only signed players that are below their peak years – Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur.

Those players have come in for low-ish transfer fees. Luis Diaz and Adama Traore were also targeted in January, again, around or below the age of 25. Doku meets that category – a young player with potential, for a low-ish fee.

Spurs could do with another player out wide. Steven Bergwijn is struggling, Lucas Moura has been inconsistent and Kulusevski might turn into a wing-back or a 10. Doku was branded a ‘diamond’ by Kevin De Bruyne in 2021.

So, with all things considers, Doku’s potential and £22million price tag has got to tempt Paratici to beat Newcastle and sign the Rennes winger this summer. Everything fits into what Paratici is trying to do at Spurs.