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‘Transfer possible’: Teammate claims English interest in Everton and Tottenham linked £18m player

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Lille’s Zeki Celik during the Ligue 1 match between Lille and Metz at Stade Pierre Mauroy on November 09, 2019 in Lille, France. (Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images)

Reported Everton and Tottenham Hotspur target Zeki Celik is indeed a target for Premier League clubs this summer, Lille teammate Yusuf Yazici tells TRT Sport.

Spurs fans everywhere must be pining for the days when Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier were fighting for a place in Mauricio Pochettino’s free-flowing side.

The rapid decline of a once-thrilling Spurs team is perhaps best reflected in the full-back areas, with neither the ever-erratic Serge Aurier nor the out-of-favour Juan Foyth living up to expectations – not to mention their hefty price-tags.

It speaks volumes that Japhet Tanganga, a centre-half by trade who only made his Premeir League debut in January, was perhaps Tottenham’s most impressive right-back during a miserable 2019/20 campaign.

So no wonder Spurs are looking to bring Celik across the Channel.

As it stands, however, Everton are in pole position after holding talks over an £18 million deal for the Turkey international earlier in August, according to the Times.

Zeki Celik of Lille OSC during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Chelsea FC and Lille OSC at Stamford Bridge on December 10, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)

“There are teams who want Zeki, both from England and Italy. He is a very close friend, we are talking. A transfer may be possible,” Lille and Turkey team-mate Yazici admits.

“The team in Italy is Atalanta. Maybe we will sell him to another team next year.”

BleacherReport backed up Tottenham’s reported interest last week though, crucially, they believe that Celik will only be on his way to north London if AC Milan are willing to take Aurier off their hands.

The Ivory Coast international is valued at £20 million but Milan are only willing to pay £13 million at present.

Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images