Cheick Doucoure was ‘disappointed’ to miss out on a summer move to Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, former Lens team-mate Zakaria Diallo tells Le Quotidien du Sport.
In truth, the title of Le Quotidien’s piece sums up how Doucoure is viewed in Ligue 1. He is, they say, ‘the other RC Lens midfielder’.
While team-mate and midfield partner Seko Fofana continues to hog the headlines – named by Get France Football News the division’s best player recently – Doucoure continues to fly somewhat under the radar.
And, yes, he doesn’t dominate a game quite like Fofana. Yes, he hasn’t scored any long-range wondergoals against Paris Saint-Germain. In fact, Doucoure is yet to open his account for Lens this season.
But do not underestimate the role he plays in a side who, in the blink of an eye, have gone from the second-tier to the brink of European qualification.
“Cheick knows how to do everything on the pitch,” Fofana explains of his less-heralded team-mate. “He works in the shadows and, for me, he is very important.
“He is incredibly complete. He’s one of the best players I’ve played with. He knows how to shoot from a distance, how to pass, break the lines, dribble, defend.”
Will Tottenham return for Cheick Doucoure?
If Tottenham’s dismal 2-0 home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday afternoon proved anything, it’s that Antonio Conte was probably onto something when he spent the entirety of the January transfer window pleading for new signings.
Doucoure, a disciplined, aggressive, ball-winning, box-to-box midfielder, certainly would have come in handy as Ruben Neves passed sorry Spurs into submission.
“This summer, Tottenham seriously approached the club and his agent,” says Diallo, who played with Doucoure last season.
“Finally, Lens closed the door. They don’t need the money and know they will sell him for even more in the future. ‘Douc’ was disappointed. But he’s not at all the type to (force an exit).”
Whether Spurs return for Doucoure next summer remains to be seen.
London neighbours Arsenal were keen too, while Aston Villa made a £10 million bid of their own.
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