According to recent reports from Sport.es, Tottenham Hotspur are one of several teams still in the hunt for Stade Rennes teenage sensation Eduardo Camavinga this summer.
It’s believed that the French outfit will try to keep hold of the 17-year-old in any way possible but that hasn’t stopped the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool also being in the running to land him.
They also claim that it could cost interested parties in excess of €50m (£46m) if they even stand a chance of clinching a potentially generational talent.
In recent weeks, Sky Sports have revealed Jose Mourinho’s desire to land a defensive midfielder – or as he calls it – a ‘positional’ midfielder before next season.
Supporters have made their thoughts heard, too, asking the club to sign him up but is a ploy for the 6-foot Frenchman a wise move to make?
Our writers give their verdicts below…
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Viji Jeevathayalan
“Young, French and a central midfielder. Remind Spurs fans of anyone? But whilst Tanguy Ndombele has enjoyed a nightmare debut campaign at the club that has included Jose Mourinho rather publicly slamming him, Camavinga seems a more perfect fit for Spurs.
“The 17-year-old is far stronger defensively than Ndombele, registering 4.3 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game, and it speaks to someone who is more mature for his age.
“The Rennes starlet wouldn’t cause Mourinho to start tearing his hair out over a lack of effort or not putting in the work going back towards his own goal. He’s a ball-winning tigerish midfielder, who is right up Mourinho’s alley for a player.”
James Beavis
“Eduardo Camavinga may be one of Europe’s brightest young talents given the kind of clubs he has been linked with in recent months, but there are a number of reasons why he might not be the right transfer target for Tottenham right now.
“Firstly, another hot prospect in Troy Parrott – one year older than the Angolan-born midfielder at 18 years of age – has played a grand total of 25 minutes under Jose Mourinho since Harry Kane was ruled out for months having picked up a hamstring injury against Southampton on New Year’s Day, despite their being no natural centre-forward alternative to the England captain.
“That suggests Camavinga could easily be another Parrott if he arrives at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium and the Portuguese boss doesn’t see him as ready to be a regular starter in the Premier League.
“Spurs also look to be in need of players who have been there and done that at the moment – especially if they plan to play a defensive midfielder behind Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso next term – and placing that pressure upon a 17-year-old’s shoulders would be a big call no matter what quality he may have.
“In a nutshell, he’d be too risky alongside Ndombele & Lo Celso.”
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Danny Lewis
“He may only be 17 years old, but Camavinga already blows Dier out of the water. He averages 4.3 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 1.3 clearances per game, while also maintaining a pass success rate of 87.7%. The only one of these categories the England international outdoes him in is clearances, of which he makes 2.6 per game.
“If Spurs are able to get in ahead of the heavy competition for the teenager’s signature, then this is a signing Levy has to make, as he is already first-team quality with plenty of room to develop further. It would be foolish to turn this opportunity down.”
Lewis Blain
“Given Mourinho’s torrid past with young talent – think of the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Mo Salah at Chelsea – I don’t think it would be wise for Spurs to splash the cash on Camavinga despite clearly being a generational talent.
“It would also ramp up the pressure tenfold on the likes of Daniel Levy and the ENIC Group having wasted a club-record £55m on Tanguy Ndombele less than 12 months earlier. It’ll be a terrible look on them if Camavinga joined only to be yet another French flop.
“So all in all, Spurs are better off avoiding this one completely – a decision they may well live to regret, but one that just cannot pay off under the current setup.”
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