If reports are to be believed, Tottenham Hotspur are leading the race to sign young La Liga midfielder Pape Cheikh Diop as Mauricio Pochettino continues his desperate search for a quality midfielder before going into next season in two weeks. The 19-year-old broke into Celta Vigo’s first team last season on the back of some impressive displays in their underage side and is currently in England for the side’s pre-season tour.
Tottenham had one of the best seasons last term, which saw them keeping the tremendous pressure on title champions Chelsea, making the title race uncertain right till the second last week of the campaign. However, a surprising and untimely loss away to West Ham ended their hopes. Pochettino has been a revolutionary for the Lilywhites since taking over in 2015.
They finished the league in third and second positions respectively and next year surely brings high hopes for their fans. One of the best things that the Argentine gaffer has brought into White Hart Lane is youth taking up the cudgels and taking the side home. In the likes of Dele Alli, Heung Min Son, Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Harry Winks and more, Tottenham are a side expected to dominate the league for the future.
And them not having any kind of summer business whatsoever also has a reason. They have one of the most balanced and complete sides in the league, which leaves Pochettino with little improvement to go for. Though midfield remains a concern for him, they still have Mousa Dembele, Dier, Victor Wanyama and Winks to take control; and an addition would mainly be a backup option which looks ideal for Diop.
The Spaniard is only 19 and has a long career ahead of him. With the likes of Pochettino and Dembele guiding him, he could meet the greatness he is touted to reach. The Senegal-born midfielder is with Celta de Vigo since 2013 when the club brought him from a lower league side Montaneros CF.
He broke into their B side almost immediately in 2014 managing to impress enough to get a call from the senior squad. He managed to make 16 La Liga appearances last season before a brief six games at the end of the 2015-16 campaign. His matured display has seen him playing regularly in the Spanish Under-19 side where he has appeared 10 times.
The player is with the squad at the moment who are scheduled to play friendlies with Premier League side Burnley and Championship side Brentford. And reportedly, numerous English scouts are expected to be attending the game.
