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Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Pape Cheikh Diop says he models his game on Iniesta

Villarreal's Mexican midfielder Jonathan dos Santos (L) vies with Celta Vigo's midfielder Pape Diop during the Spanish league football match Villar...
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Tottenham Hotspur are keen to sign Pape Cheikh Diop.

Pape Cheikh Diop is the surprise name being linked with becoming Tottenham Hotspur’s first summer signing.

SkySports report that Spurs have offered Celta Vigo £10 million for Diop and are hopeful a deal can be done this week.

Diop was born in Senegal but moved to Spain as a teenager and has pledged his commitment to La Roja at international level.

Speaking to Faro de Vigo, Diop admits that he models his game on Spanish legend Andres Iniesta, as well as closely watching other top talents.

Villarreal's Mexican midfielder Jonathan dos Santos (L) vies with Celta Vigo's midfielder Pape Diop during the Spanish league football match Villarreal CF vs RC Celta de Vigo at El...

He said: “I was always looking for Iniesta, I like him a lot since I was a little kid.

“I look at all those who play in the midfield, I watch videos of how they move, how they play the ball, how they bargain, and when I go to training, I try to do it like they do.”

Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Andres Iniesta of Barcelona battle for the ball during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Bernabeu on April 23, 2017...

Diop adds that he wants to score goals as well as contribute defensively to his team, suggesting he can be an all round box-to-box talent.

He said: “Now I am a more offensive player, an eight, to get to the area and score goals, but I also like playing defensive midfield, recovering balls and helping defenders.”

Diop, under contract with Celta Vigo until 2021, does need to do more to add to his game. Last season he made 19 first team appearances and scored only once.

Spurs would be buying a prospect rather than a proven star, but this is very much their model.

If he can go on to have half the career as Iniesta, then Tottenham will have bought very well.