Spurs pulled off an impressive deal landing Serge Aurier from Paris Saint-Germain – but it appears they wanted his team-mate first.
Tottenham Hotspur signed a right-back from Paris Saint-Germain this summer. Though not necessarily the one they initially wanted.
According to Belgian publication DH, Thomas Meunier was Spurs’ first choice to replace the departing Kyle Walker this summer – only for PSG to rebuff any advances for a player they paid just £5 million for last summer from Club Brugge (ESPN).
Though Spurs didn’t have to look very far to find an alternative target, falling back on Meunier’s PSG team-mate Serge Aurier, who lost his starting spot to the former midway through last season.
The Ivory Coast international eventually penned a deal to move to North London for a fee of £23 million (DH) and, if he can keep the much publicised personal issues at bay, Mauricio Pochettino will be able to call upon a right-back every bit as dangerous as Walker going forward.
Second choice
However, reports that Meunier was Tottenham’s preferred target will raise eyebrows. The Belgian international is not quite as well-known as Aurier, having been hidden away in domestic football before bursting onto the scene at Euro 2016.
Yet, while the 25-year-old may not be as dynamic or pacey as Spurs’ new right-back, you could certainly argue that he is the more technical footballer. A cultured full-back with a wand of a right-foot, Meunier specialises in the perfect, pinpoint delivery and evolved into an efficient attacking outlet for PSG last season.
And his recent performances for Belgium during the international break have only added to a reputation that is growing all the time.
Meunier, the right-back, hit a hat-trick as well as producing three assists as The Red Devils swept aside Gibraltar 9-0 before his sublime cross allowed Romelu Lukaku to score the winner against Greece and send Belgium to the World Cup.
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