Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is understood to be keen on both Valencia’s Geoffrey Kondogbia and Everton’s Ross Barkley.
Geoffrey Kondogbia is finally starting to look like the £25 million midfielder Inter Milan thought they had signed in the summer of 2016, per The Guardian. Unfortunately for the Nerrazzuri, the Frenchman’s revival has taken place at Valencia rather than the San Siro.
Inter loaned Kondogbia to La Liga’s perennial underachievers in the summer with an option to buy for £22 million (The Sun). After dominant performances against Madrid giants Real and Atletico however, Kondogbia’s coolly taken strike earning Valencia a point at the Bernabau in August, the 24-year-old has suddenly reappeared in the gossip columns.
One or the other?
And if Spurs receive an indication that Kondogbia could indeed be available, you wonder what this means for their pursuit of Ross Barkley. The Sun reports that Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is hoping to beat London rivals Chelsea to the England international in January with his Everton contract due to expire at the end of the season.
Barkley could be available at just £20 million in January after Spurs saw a £35 million offer rebuffed in the summer. And the report adds that Pochettino sees the 23-year-old as a deep-lying midfielder rather than a natural number ten and plans to partner him with fellow Englishman Eric Dier.
There would only appear to be room for one of Barkley or Kondogbia in Spurs’ midfield, however. While hardly identical players, both would be signed for their ability to power forward in transition and turn defence to attack with a burst of acceleration.
The question, however, is who Pochettino would rather bring to North London. If it’s the Frenchman, then perhaps Barkley’s oft-mooted Tottenham chance has passed.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
