Sources: Tottenham and Man United keeping tabs on Levante star after January exit verdict
Tottenham and Man United are each eyeing a move for in-form Levante forward Karl Etta Eyong to solve their respective striker problems.
Both Tottenham and Man United are in need of prolific striker additions, with each club’s forwards struggling to find the back of the net on a consistent basis in recent times.
They have each identified Levante’s Karl Etta Eyong as potential capture in a future transfer window following his impressive start to the new La Liga campaign.
The Cameroonian forward rose to prominence in the Spanish third-tier last season with 19 goals in 30 league appearances for Villarreal B, and looked set to make the step up to their first-team ahead of this campaign.
He instead made the move to newly-promoted Levante on deadline day despite featuring for Villarreal in the first few games, and his great early-season form has now alerted Premier League clubs to his potential availability.
Levante not set to allow Karl Etta Eyong to leave in January amid interest from top clubs
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Etta Eyong is unlikely to depart Levante in January as they will need him to stay in the Spanish top-flight.
The 21-year-old has netted four goals and notched three assists in seven La Liga appearances so far this season, with three of those goal contributions while he was still playing for Villarreal and the other four coming since he made the move to Los Granotas on 1 September.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast about his immediate future and interest from top clubs including Tottenham and Man United, I explained: “It would be hard to do a deal in January. Four goals and three assists in seven La Liga appearances, that’s what’s brought him onto the radar of the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United and now Barcelona as well.
“Villarreal have an option in there to buy him back as well. That complicates things as well. I don’t think Levante will be looking to lose him mid-way through the season, because they probably will need Eyong’s goals if they are to avoid relegation from La Liga”
Tottenham and Man United both need a new striker to reach new heights
Tottenham chose not to bolster their forward line in the recent summer window, with more versatile wide forwards and attacking midfielders signed like Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons.
Dominic Solanke has struggled with injury issues so far this term, stretching back to the end of last season, while Richarlison looked to have solved their problems with a brace on the opening day against Burnley, but he has now scored just once in his last eight Spurs appearances.
Man United signed Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig in August for around £74million, but he has only found the back of the net once in his first seven games for the club, and has looked seriously unconvincing in front of goal up to now.
Ruben Amorim has Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Joshua Zirkzee as other options at centre-forward, but they all prefer to play behind a striker, and so the club are in clear need of another new addition soon.
The Lilywhites and the Red Devils would each like to sign Etta Eyong in the near future, but interest from the likes of Chelsea and Barcelona could quash their respective hopes of a move.