In August 2017 we covered a report from Marca which stated Pape Cheikh was ‘very close to signing’ for Tottenham Hotspur.
The Spanish newspaper said Celta Vigo had admitted being in negotiations with Spurs over the midfielder’s transfer, and the player would be kept out of friendly matches ahead of a potential move.
Celta Vigo had the player on a contract with a €30m release clause, but were willing to accept around €10m from the Premier League club.
The move didn’t happen, and on August 29th of that year, Pape Cheikh signed for Lyon for the €10m amount, plus a few extra million should all bonus targets be met.
He has 23 appearances so far this season, and the 21 year old is battling to become a regular for the French club.
He’ll be hoping to get some minutes for Lyon against Barcelona in the Champions League this week, and ahead of the match he’s spoken to Spanish newspaper AS.
Asked by AS how he ended up at Lyon, the midfielder brought up his failed move to London: “It was a hard decision. Tottenham also wanted me and the truth that their name sounded louder… but the idea of Lyon attracted me. I knew it was a club that works with young people, you work with them, they help you grow. And I think I guessed right.”
