Report: Arsenal and Spurs handed boost in race for 21-year-old tipped to become one of world’s best full-backs

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Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur may have been handed a boost in their reported pursuit of Real Madrid prodigy Achraf Hakimi, according to Le Parisien.

The 21-year-old has impressed during his two-year loan at Borussia Dortmund and is now thought to be one of the most highly sought-after full-backs in Europe – though the Gunners and Spurs are far from the only reported suitors.

To date, Hakimi has made 65 senior appearances for Dortmund in all competitions, registering 10 goals and 17 assists, and with the Bundesliga set to restart, should be able to add to his tally.

The Daily Mail claimed last month that Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus all want the Morocco international.

Le Parisien, however, says PSG are now out of the running due to financial reasons, with a reported €55million (£48million) outlay deemed too high in wake of current events.

The outlet claims that the French capital is reeling from having suffered huge financial losses, so are having to be prudent going forward, and will largely be focusing their energies and budget on signing striker Mauro Icardi permanently.

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Hakimi is a very highly rated player who has shown his credentials at the highest level, including the Champions League and the World Cup.

Aside from being superb in attack and in defence, he is also officially the quickest player in Bundesliga history, making him faster than Arsenal speedster Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Slavia Prague coach Jindrich Trpisovsky is quoted by Buli News as saying after their 2-0 loss to Dortmund in the Champions League in October: “I knew about Hakimi’s quality.

“I think that, within a few years, he will be among the three or four best full-backs in the world. His potential is tremendous.”

Despite the boost in PSG reportedly dropping out, it’ll still be hard work for Arsenal and Spurs in overcoming the other suitors and convincing Hakimi and his parent club of a move – but the reward would certainly be worth it given his class.