Tottenham Hotspur are admirers of Stade de Reims midfielder Amir Richardson while Premier League rivals Everton, Brentford and Leicester City are in the mix for a potential £8.5 million deal.
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Born in France, an international for Morocco but the son of American basketball great Micheal “Sugar” Ray Richardson, the multi-cultural midfielder is emerging as a man in high demand ahead of the final stretch of the summer window.
Amir Richardson was one of the breakout stars of French football last season.
And HITC can confirm that the 22-year-old’s ever-improving performances have earned him a place on Tottenham Hotspur’s hit-list.
While Spurs are prioritising a striker – confirmed by Ange Postecoglou – the departure of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Marseille also leaves the door open for a midfielder offering physicality, athleticism and quality on the ball.
At 6ft 6ins, the rangy Richardson covers the ground excellently and contributes at both ends of the pitch.
A genuine box-to-box player, he scored three times in Ligue 1 last season. One strike against Toulouse in particular – almost sliding tackling the ball into the net from the edge of the box – summed up his style of play.
Tottenham Hotspur join Everton in Amir Richardson race
HITC understands that Richardson is on the radar of Everton, Leicester City and Brentford too.
The seven-gap Moroccon marauder possesses many of the attributes Sean Dyche looks for in the engine room. Richardson looks well suited to filling the void created by fellow giant Amadou Onana following his £50 million move from Everton to Aston Villa.
Leicester, meanwhile, are yet to replace Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall following his reunion with Enzo Maresca at Chelsea.
A Brentford side who are closing in on Burnley defender Dara O’Shea – as HITC reported on Tuesday – want to add further depth to their midfield department amid links with Napoli ace Jens Cajuste.
Unsurprising, given his French upbringing and his combination of technical and physical gifts, Richardson highlights 2018 World Cup winner Paul Pogba as one of the players he models his game upon, per L’Union.
Richardson has three years left on his contract.
A player also on the radars of Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, Roma, Atalanta and Fiorentina may be available for a bargain fee of just £8.5 million, however though a bidding war could raise that price considerably following a few stand-out displays at the Paris Olympics.
Richardson scored as Morocco hammered Iraq 3-0. He will take home a bronze medal if Tarik Sektioui’s side defeated Egypt in the tournament’s third-place play-off.
Spurs prioritising Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke
Tottenham appear to be making the most progress, however, in their pursuit of a number nine rather than a number eight.
HITC understands that the North London outfit are progressing in talks with AFC Bournemouth over last season’s 21-goal top scorer Dominic Solanke.
Spurs are even willing to stump up the £65 million required – Solanke has a ‘top six’ clause in his contract – but it remains to be seen if Bournemouth would accept the payment over a number of instalments.
“Last year, we had to be a bit creative, it’s fair to say. If Harry (Kane) would have stayed I definitely would have used him!” Postecoglou told Football London before Spurs’ 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in Korea on Saturday.
“It’s still the area of the park we’re really probably the thinnest when I talk about squad-wise at the moment. So, obviously, that’s a focus for us.”
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