Tottenham reportedly pulled out of a deal for Celta Vigo midfielder Papa Cheikh Diop.
According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino pulled out of the race to sign Celta Vigo midfielder Pape Cheikh Diop, as he wants to give a first-team opportunity to Tashan Oakley-Boothe.
Whilst Spurs added a new goalkeeper and defender last week in Paulo Gazzaniga and Davinson Sanchez, manager Pochettino has been expected to bring in another midfielder, presumably as the heir to Mousa Dembele.
Dembele provides drive through the middle of the park, but he is now in his 30’s and has suffered injury issues in recent years, meaning Spurs may look for his long-term replacement – and talented youngster Harry Winks isn’t that type of player.
In recent weeks, speculation has suggested that Celta Vigo’s young midfielder Pape Cheikh Diop had been lined up for a move to Tottenham, but he is instead heading to Lyon, with new reports suggesting why.
The Daily Mail claim that Pochettino pulled Spurs out of the race to sign Diop, as he instead believes that youth product Tashan Oakley-Boothe deserves a change in the first team this season.
Oakley-Boothe, 17, has come up through the ranks with Tottenham, and he featured for Spurs during their pre-season preparations earlier this summer, playing against the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Roma.
Kevin Strootman (L) of A.S. Roma and Tashan Oakley-Boothe (R) of Tottenham Hotspur
The teenage midfielder, who has notched 11 caps for the England Under-17’s, was on the bench for Tottenham against Burnley on Sunday, and whilst he didn’t make an appearance, he appears to be in Pochettino’s thoughts for this season.
That now means that Spurs won’t be signing Lyon-bound Diop, who had been impressing in Spain, with Pochettino instead putting his trust in Tottenham’s homegrown youngsters once again.
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