Tottenham Hotspur continue to keep a close eye on one World Cup star…
What’s the latest?
That’s according to Pete O’Rourke, who has given his thoughts on reports that Antonio Conte had requested the signing of Sofyan Amrabat in the summer.
Although the Moroccan is now set to have a whole host of suitors, Spurs seemingly remain in pole position to land one of the world’s most coveted players at the moment.
The journalist told GIVEMESPORT: ”I’m sure Spurs have been keeping a close eye on him during this World Cup tournament, and I’m sure that they can only have been impressed by his performances for Morocco. He’s probably been Morocco’s star man in midfield.”
Fiorentina will reportedly demand a whopping €55m (£48m) fee for Amrabat following his stunning international performances over the last month.
The new Moussa Dembele
The 26-year-old has been one of the standout players in Qatar this winter, with the midfielder having been at the heart of Morocco’s sensational run to the semi-finals.
A combative midfielder who can win back the ball and drive his team up the pitch, he draws similarities with former White Hart Lane favourite Moussa Dembele.
Mauricio Pochettino even recalled a conversation he and Dembele shared, in which the Argentine told him: “Mousa, in my book, you will be one of my genius players that I have been lucky to meet, with Maradona, Ronaldinho, Okocha and De La Pena, a genius too, and Moussa Dembele. We always told him that if we had taken you at eighteen or nineteen years old, you would have become one of the best players in the world.”
Tottenham could finally discover that elusive replacement in the Moroccan maestro.
At the World Cup, Amrabat has averaged an 85% pass accuracy alongside one interception, 2.5 tackles and 1.7 clearances per game (via Sofascore).
In their semi-final defeat to France, he recorded 92 touches and completed 67 passes, one of which was a key pass. This display was capped off with one clearance and two tackles (via Sofascore) despite the 2-0 loss.
Adrian Durham of talkSPORT lauded him after the match, claiming: “If a player gives 100 per cent and more every single time he goes out there, but still ends up on the losing side, you can forgive him… And everybody can see that Amrabat, yes they lost 2-0, but he has given literally everything for the cause.
“Absolutely flat out at the end of every game, not just this one, every single game he’s played, he’s given the lot.”
He is now being recognised as part of an “elite” bracket of midfielders – as dubbed by Jason Lee – akin to the one that Dembele dominated during his time in north London.
Conte could finally replace the former Spurs cult hero with someone who has captured the world’s attention.