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Tottenham round-up: Leading race for Celtic’s Moussa Dembele; Serie A striker talks; Arsenal’s Calum Chambers targeted
Following a hushed week for Premier League clubs with the international break in full flow, speculation on the summer transfer plans of the top-flight elite has once more begun to cascade, and fascinating news is emerging from The Sun, who claim that Tottenham are confident of landing Celtic’s leading scorer Moussa Dembele, despite interest from West London rivals Chelsea.
The Blues were initially linked with a move for Dembele back in January which failed to materialise, and the striker has since gone on to raise his tally to 24 goals in 35 games for the Bhoys this season, with the Parkhead club now valuing their main man at £40million.
Five days ago, outed the claim that Dembele had sensationally turned down a move to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, dictated by the fact that he could not be guaranteed regular first-team football by Antonio Conte, whilst the report in The Sun (various sources, including the and the , quote The Sun as the original source, although the online article appears to have been removed from The Sun Online at the time of writing), claims that Tottenham have been monitoring the Frenchman’s progress ever since his move from fellow Londoners, Fulham, and may now pip the Blues to Dembele’s signature.
A source was quoted in the report as saying: “This is a deal that has been in the offing for a very long time and looks to be set for this summer”.
“The boss is a huge fan and wants to make sure he has enough options up front going into next season.”
Such a move for another goal-scoring centre-forward is sure to raise question-marks over the future of misfiring Netherlands striker Vincent Janssen at the club, and it may be cast into further doubt with Tottenham set for talks with agent Pavel Paska, the representative of Sampdoria’s Czech striker, Patrik Schick, according to the .
The 21-year-old has netted nine goals in 25 games for Serie A Sampdoria, with Schick only starting six, having enjoyed a fruitful loan spell back in his homeland for Bohemians last season, where he netted eight times. The Czech marksman has a release clause of £21 million in his contract with the Genoese side, but he is not expected to cost any potential suitors such a substantial fee, with Spurs thought to be prepared to pay a maximum of £17 million.
Of course being in the market for two forwards immediately suggests that their arrivals may be at the expense of struggling Janssen, though Pochettino has needed to combat a lack of depth in the Spurs squad for some time, with Janssen currently his only fit senior striker, thanks to Harry Kane’s spell on the sidelines with injury. Son Heung-Min is also capable of occupying the position but is more naturally a wide player.
Mauricio Pochettino would face competition in the market for the Czech youngster, though, for other potential suitors include Inter Milan, as well as Everton, West Bromwich Albion, and bitter rivals Arsenal, who are also set to hold talks with the player’s agent this week according to the report.
Having mentioned the Gunners, interesting rumours have emerged elsewhere in the that Spurs could be plotting an audacious raid on their North London rivals, as Mauricio Pochettino keeps close tabs on the progress of Arsenal defender Calum Chambers, who is currently enjoying a loan spell at Middlesbrough.
The report claims that the Argentine manager is keeping a watchful eye on the youngster, with doubt cast over his long-term future at the Emirates, despite having three years left to run on his contract. He is a player familiar to Pochettino, with the two having worked together during his spell in charge of Southampton, and that relationship, as well as the fact that Chambers has featured regularly for the ‘Boro in the league this campaign, may just entice Spurs into an approach, should the Arsenal hierarchy decide that the 22-year-old is not a part of their plans.
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