Why failing to sign Nkoudou could be a blessing in disguise for Tottenham

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Sofiane Boufal is reportedly back on Spurs’ radar.

Sofiane Boufal

Recent reports, by the likes of France Football, have suggested that Spurs have reignited their interest in Sofiane Boufal after becoming frustrated in their pursuit of Georges-Kevin Nkoudou.

The deal for the Marseille winger was thought to have been agreed over two weeks ago – as reported by the Guardian – but it appears to have hit a snag and Spurs may well be better off for it.

If the Lilywhites secure a deal for Nkoudou and send Clinton Njie the other way, they will essentially be swapping one pacey winger who enjoyed one good season in Ligue 1 with another.

Georges-Kevin Nkoudou at Marseille

Mauricio Pochettino may well be unconvinced by what he has seen from Njie in training and Nkoudou appears to have the higher potential of the two, yet they are both undeniably raw prospects at this point.

Tottenham will compete for the Premier League title and participate in the Champions League this season and they need players who will come and make an instant impact and threaten the current first XI.

Paris St Germain v Lille – French League Cup final – Stade de France stadium

Sofiane Boufal is precisely that player. The Moroccan winger is full of pace, tricks and has a keen eye for goal. He is more experienced, more consistent and more technically gifted than Nkoudou.

The numbers don’t lie either, and Boufal betters his fellow Ligue 1 forward in every crucial metric an attacking midfielder can be judged by.

A slight spanner in the works could be the fitness of the Lille attacker, with Boufal not due to return to fitness until September after undergoing surgery on a persistent knee issue.

That means he would miss several key games for Spurs, should he make the switch, but for a player of his quality – it will definitely be worth the wait.