On Friday several English newspapers, including the Daily Mail, published claims Tottenham have made an approach for Pape Cheikh Diop of Celta Vigo.
That led to Sky Sports later saying their own sources had backed up Tottenham opening talks to sign the player, who was described as: ‘one of the country’s most promising prospects.’
That country is Spain, and it’s all taking them slightly by surprise. Tottenham interest is covered, as is that of West Brom, but it’s certainly not being hyped up.
Pape Cheikh started 5 games for Celta Vigo in La Liga last season, and he’s not expected to be a regular starter in the season to come.
La Voz de Galicia, the regional newspaper who know a thing or two about Celta Vigo and Pape Cheikh, believe that West Brom, like Tottenham, also hold some kind of interest. However, it’s not entirely clear whether this has come from their own information or English rumours.
It’s not that La Voz don’t explain it well, it just not given much room because there doesn’t appear to be a great deal happening yet from either Tottenham or West Brom.
Pape Cheikh is this season expected to alternate his time between the senior and youth set-up, so the suggestion in England that his £25m clause could be approached would be club shaking at Celta.
The 20 year old was given a €30m clause because buyout clauses are usually supposed to be ridiculously high, not price-tags.
Tottenham links were first pushed in England towards the end of July, with Celta Vigo travelling to play friendlies against Brentford and Burnley. Tottenham were said to be set to watch Pape Cheikh, which at the time seemed a random claim, and the regional Galicia media insisted there’d been no approach of any kind.
That’s still the line, just with West Brom also thrown in as an interested party now.
