Arsenal showed an interest in signing Metz midfielder Pape Matar Sarr this summer, but he is now set on joining their North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
That’s according to the Daily Mail, who claim that Arsenal joined Aston Villa, Chelsea and Everton in targeting Sarr during this summer’s transfer window.
However, it’s Tottenham who have struck a deal with Metz, paying £14.5million plus add-ons as well as sending Sarr back to Metz on loan for this season.
Sarr was convinced to pick Tottenham over any other club after holding talks, and he will attend Tottenham’s home game with Watford this weekend, with his medical imminent.
Sarr, 18, is being touted for a huge future having already made a massive impact with Metz, bagging four goals and one assist in 28 league games.
A box-to-box midfield player, Sarr is a versatile performer who could end up being a mainstay of Tottenham’s midfield for years to come.
If you look at the terms of the deal, Sarr’s move to Tottenham does seem similar to Arsenal signing Albert Sambi Lokonga this summer.
Lokonga cost Arsenal £15million plus add-ons when they signed him from Anderlecht in July, eerily similar to the deal Tottenham have struck for Sarr.
Lokonga is a few years older at 21 and is already playing in Arsenal’s first team, but he was seen as a player for the future at first.
Given that Sarr will only play for Tottenham next season, Spurs absolutely see the Senegalese ace as a play for the future.
Maybe Arsenal explored a move for Sarr and felt that Lokonga fit their needs better, but Tottenham will absolutely love that they have won the race for the teenager.
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