Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool FC are reportedly interested in Valencia midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, as per English news outlet, Daily Mail. Kondogbia has impressed in the La Liga this season, following a barren spell at Serie A with Inter Milan last season.
Having taken him on loan from Inter, Valencia do have the option to permanently secure his deal for a fee of £22million next summer. However, the Spanish giants are likely to judge his performances till the end of the season, and should they get reluctant to activate his ‘option to buy’ clause, PL giants Tottenham are expected to lure the midfielder to English shores.
Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino is apparently seeking more options in midfield, largely due to the injury concerns of Moussa Dembele and Victor Wanyama. Spurs were interested in the services of Ross Barkley and they are expected to make an offer in January. However, that will strengthen the club’s offensive options.
Over the years, the midfield has been a vital part of Pochettino’s system. Considering their lack of defensive midfielders at the moment, the inclusion of Geoffrey Kondogbia might be a perfect solution for Spurs.
In a Valencia team boasting some of Liga’s greatest attacking talents, Kondogbia has been a vital part of the midfield alongside Dani Parejo. Kondogbia can prove to be a like for like replacement for Victor Wanyama, thanks to his immense physical prowess, coupled with defensive discipline.
He can be intimidating for the opposition thanks to his physicality and aggression, and therefore, he’s perfectly suited to the English game.
Furthermore, the addition of Geoffrey Kondogbia will make Tottenham a much more balanced unit, especially in midfield. With Eric Dier, having the qualities to play as an auxiliary centre-back, the French midfielder can easily slot in as the holding midfielder for Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
However, it’s highly doubtful if Kondogbia will move to the Premier League. If he continues to impress in the Spanish Liga, Valencia will always have the first say to sign the midfielder.
On the other hand, Spurs’ defensive rock Victor Wanyama is soon expected to return to action, which only makes the Kondogbia signing look much more redundant than it is. Moussa Dembele is also set to return to action after the International break.
Therefore, the Lilywhites should instead focus on acquiring the services of Ross Barkley in January – a much more practical option for Mauricio Pochettino and his team. But Kondogbia be an option for Spurs next summer?
