da betsson： According to reports in the printed edition of the Sunday People on September 24th (Page 47), Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly ready to go head-to-head with Serie A giants Inter Milan in the race to sign Rennes centre-back Joris Gnagnon, who is rated at £14m by his club and has already rejected a move to Chelsea.
What’s the word, then?
da lvbet： Well, the Sunday People report says that the 20-year-old is considered to be one of the top young talents in France after becoming a key first team player for Rennes, and Tottenham are said to be watching him closely despite only signing two young centre-backs – Juan Foyth and Davinson Sanchez – during the summer.
Chelsea wanted to sign the defender before the transfer window slammed shut at the end of last month, but in an interview with Foot Mercato the Ivory Coast international said he turned down the move to Stamford Bridge this summer as he didn’t believe that he would be playing regularly.
How good is Gnagnon?
Well, he has already started all seven of Rennes’ Ligue 1 fixtures this season and he even scored in the impressive 3-1 win away at Marseille earlier this month.
He has shown his defensive capabilities by 38 clearances and seven interceptions in those domestic appearances, while he has also proven just how strong he is in the air by winning 22 of the 31 headed duels he has contested.
He had his breakthrough campaign during the 2016/17 season, and he has been catching the eyes of scouts from the likes of Tottenham and Inter since.
Would he be a good signing?
Gnagnon looks to be a proper defender and if Spurs believe that he has the quality to go right to the top and that £14m could prove to be a bargain in the long run, then they simply have to make their move.
Mauricio Pochettino has proven that he can nurture young talent and the 20-year-old could be the next impressive player to make it in the Tottenham first team.
Is the rumour likely to be true?
It may well be true that they are monitoring Gnagnon, but having signed Sanchez and Foyth – who are 21 and 19 respectively – as well as having Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Eric Dier in their ranks, it would be something of a strange addition in the near future.
With the player also rejecting Chelsea because of fears he wouldn’t play, this would surely be a problem for him, too.