Arsenal and Tottenham in race to sign the 'next Riyad Mahrez' - sources
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Arsenal and Tottenham in race to sign the 'next Riyad Mahrez' - sources

Wayne Veysey
Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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By London correspondent Tony Hughes

Arsenal and Tottenham are monitoring Lille winger Sofiane Boufal, Football Insider sources understand.

The London clubs scouted the 22-year-old on Saturday night as Lille tackled Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de la Ligue final at Parc des Princes.

A source close to the situation has told Football Insider that Arsenal and Tottenham are among a number of clubs who are eyeing Boufal.

He has also been watched by both Manchester clubs, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan.

The Morocco international has risen to prominence in Ligue 1 this season, scoring 11 goals and supplying four assists in 27 league matches.

He has been compared to Leicester sensation Riyad Mahrez for his dashing style of play, individualism and contributions in the final third.

Boufal joined Lille for £3million from then-Ligue 2 club Angers in January 2015 and has made such an impact in the top flight that he is now rated at 23million by his club.

Such has been the success he has enjoyed over his first year at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, the club have already accepted that selling him in the summer is inevitable, albeit for a far greater fee than their initial outlay.

“Keeping Boufal this summer? It’s virtually impossible,” LOSC president Michel Seydoux told France Football recently. “Of course it’s sad, but the gap between ourselves and England is growing very quickly. It dictates that we can’t keep him.”

Seydoux's comments strongly indicate that Paris-born Boufal will follow Mahrez in making the journey across the English Channel in the summer.

In other Tottenham transfer news, there has been a twist in the club's new striker pursuit.

Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur
Sofiane Boufal
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