Tottenham in fierce battle to sign £30m-rated attacker – report
By Derek Smithson
Tottenham are eyeing a move for Lazio attacker Keita Balde, according to a report.
The Daily Mirror claim that Spur are one of the teams eyeing the 22-year-old, with Premier League rivals Everton and Liverpool also keen on him.
It is understood that the Merseyside club have had approaches rejected by the Serie A club, who is valued at £30million.
The report details that Balde is refusing to extend his one-year deal with Lazio and wants to force a move to Juventus.
Italian giants Juventus have not made a move for the left winger and the trio of English clubs remain interested in his signature.
Balde was in good form last year for Lazio and was an ever-present in the starting line-up on the left flank.
The Senegal international made 34 appearances across all competitions, scoring 16 goals and supplying six assists in return.
He hit top form at the back-end of last season and scored eight of his goals in just five matches.
Balde has risen through the Lazio academy as a youngster and has never played outside of Serie A, but his potential has seen English teams take notice.
Football Insider verdict:
Balde would be a brilliant addition to the Spurs ranks if they could sign him, but a move to Juventus seems inevitable if the Italian giants become interested. The 22-year-old wide man is blessed with blistering pace and has the potential to be a real star in the Premier League. He has also shown an eye for goal with 16 strikes from the wide position last year and can only improve in the future. Mauricio Pochettino may need to consider a new wide man to give his side an extra dimension next year as it could be seen as the only weak point of their squad. Balde would given an injection of pace and appears to be in the mould of Liverpool’s Sadio Mane.
In other Tottenham transfer news, they are considered joint favourites to sign a 20-year-old winger.
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