Napoli left-back Faouzi Ghoulam was in high demand this summer with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly interested.
At the start of the summer, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea all had a new left back right at the top of their list of priorities. And all, at some point or another, were linked with a swoop for Napoli’s Algerian international Faouzi Ghoulam, who looked likely to leave Serie A on a cut-price deal with his contract expiring in the summer of 2018.
Spurs’ left-back options looked exceedingly strong at the start of the transfer window but Danny Rose throwing caution to the wind in that infamous interview with The Sun, and admitting that he could seek one last big contract elsewhere for the sake of his trophy cabinet and his bank balance meant Tottenham would be sensible to plan ahead of any possible departure.
And the report claims that Spurs were interested by the prospect of landing Ghoulam as the former St Etienne defender looked set to be available for nothing in just 12 months’ time – though that did not stop Napoli demanding around £35 million this summer.
Waiting too long?
Ghoulam, who is renowned for his pinpoint crossing ability, has taken his game to another level during three-and-a-half years at the Stadio San Paolo and could appear an ideal fit for Mauricio Pochettino’s high intensity style at Spurs.
However, it appears that Tottenham have now missed the boat as Football Italia report that negotiations are now at an advanced stage for Ghoulam to extend his contract at Napoli to 2022.
Needless to say, the Serie A title hopefuls will be in a position to demand far more than £35 million when next summer rolls around – and it remains to be seen whether penny-pinching chairman Daniel Levy would be prepared to pay such a fee.
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