Report: Lille eye up replacement for Tottenham Hotspur linked Zeki Celik

Ligue 1 side Lille are reportedly eyeing up a replacement for Zeki Celik, as they fear Tottenham Hotspur may make a move for the Turkish defender. 

As reported by Buzz Sport, the French side have their eyes on Strasbourg right-back Kenny Lala. They suggest that a move for the player failed last year as Strasbourg wanted too much money, over €10 million (£9m) for the pleasure. 

Now, however, Lala is believed to have a less imposing price-tag and Lille are considering the 28-year-old as a potential replacement for Celik. 

 (Photo by Johnny Fidelin/Icon Sport via Getty Images)

Tottenham and Everton are named as being keen on the Turkish star. The same source recently reported that Jose Mourinho views Celik as a potential solution to Tottenham’s right-back problem, with a £26.5 million price-tag on the 23-year-old.

The links with Celik have been helped by the fact his former assistant at  Lille, Joao Sacramento, is now at Tottenham working as Mourinho’s right-hand man. 

Tottenham are in desperate need of a new right-back with Serge Aurier inconsistent and a general lack of options behind him. 

Celik is just one of many names being mentioned. But with Lille now actively keeping tabs on a potential replacement, Tottenham can perhaps start to ask the question regarding a move for the Turkish star.