Tottenham will ‘look to be in the race for’ 24-year-old Monaco star on 18 G/A, despite ‘difficulty’

Tottenham have a lot of work to do in the summer transfer window.

Tottenham Hotspur have been vying for a move to bring in a new creative attacker in the upcoming summer transfer window. And this search for a new face to bolster the attacking department could lead the Lilywhites to revive their interest in a Ligue 1 talent.

AS Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche has been on Tottenham’s radar a while, with the left-footed playmaker being heavily linked with a move to White Hart Lane in the most recent transfer window.

Spurs were keen to add a creative player to compensate for the injury absences of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski during the January transfer window. They wanted to recruit Maghnes Akliouche at the right price; however, no deal materialised, and he ended up staying at AS Monaco. The Frenchman has arguably been his club’s standout performer, delivering seven goals and 11 assists in 42 games in all competitions. This has led to the 24-year-old getting picked in the France squad for next month’s World Cup.

Tottenham asked to be kept informed on Maghnes Akliouche’s situation

Tottenham’s pursuit of Akliouche has got complicated ahead of the summer, with Manchester United reportedly setting their sights on the AS Monaco star. The Red Devils have scouted the seven-cap France international, and while it is unclear where Akliouche ranks on their wishlist, INEOS are said to be prioritising adding some firepower to their frontline ahead of their return to the Champions League.

Nonetheless, according to an exclusive report from Football Insider, Spurs have asked to be kept informed on Akliouche’s situation if he is allowed to leave Monaco. The Ligue 1 side are now ready to sell their exciting talent and raise funds to rebuild the squad.

“Maghnes Akliouche is obviously a player who’s been on their radar for a long time,” Pete O’Rourke exclusively said on the Transfer Insider podcast (h/t Football Insider).

“Tottenham will be keeping tabs on him, and they are looking to be kept informed on his future. Monaco are well aware of the growing interest in him and probably would sell at the right price.

“For Tottenham, I’m sure they’ll be looking to be in that race for him. But I think it’ll be difficult for them just due to that lack of European football and because of the probably rival interest from other clubs.”

Difficult deal to crack

Despite missing out on his services on two occasions, Tottenham still have Akliouche in their shortlist of summer targets. The 24-year-old is viewed as a perfect fit for Roberto De Zerbi’s system due to his playmaking abilities, movement and dribbling, with the Lilywhites likely to make a move for him if they avoid relegation.

However, with no European football next season, coupled with several clubs vying for his signature, it’d be extremely difficult for the North Londoners to crack a deal for the rising French talent.