Tottenham can sign their own Declan Rice for £14m, he’s ‘incredible’

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Seko Fofana made no effort to hide his surprise at being named Get France Football News’ Ligue 1 Player of the Year for 2021.  

“I think it was a simple decision in the end,” the website’s head writer Adam White explained when asked why the one-time Fulham youngster had been chosen ahead of Kylian Mbappe, Wissam Ben Yedder, Marco Verratti and more.  

“He’s been the most consistently high-level performer in Ligue 1. He manages to play midfield enforcer, creator and dynamo all at once.

“It’s quite incredible.” 

Fofana may have been taken aback to learn that he, rather than one of the superstars in PSG’s ever-expanding galaxy, would have to make room on his mantelpiece.

But anyone who has watched RC Lens in action throughout the last 15 months or go would not have batted an eyelid as Fofana took home a well-earned piece of individual silverware.

Is Seko Fofana the best player in Ligue 1?

There’s arguably not a more complete central midfield player in France right now.

According to Jeunes Footeaux, Fofana’s barnstorming displays have caught the eye of Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs reportedly sent a scout to watch the Paris-born 26-year-old in last weekend’s 3-0 thumping of Champions League-chasers Nice.

Newcastle United and Leeds are also keen on a player earning comparisons with Les Bleus legend Patrick Vieira.

Looking at the one-time Manchester City youngster through the prism of the Premier League however, there is another player Fofana’s thrillingly all-action performances are oddly reminiscent of. A certain Declan Rice. 

Like the West Ham talisman, Fofana is a ball-winner and a ball-player rolled into one. A tough-tackling midfield general, a prancing playmaker and an inspirational captain wrapped around a purring V8 engine.  

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Tottenham have four high-quality central midfield options these days; Harry Winks, Oliver Skipp, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur. Arguably none of the Spurs quartet are capable of turning defence into attack quite so efficiently or aesthetically as Rice, however.

Or Fofana, for that matter. 

He has Hojbjerg’s aggression, Bentancur’s guile, Skipp’s grit and Winks’ technique. Four players in one. There are certainly worse ways to spend £14 million.