Report: Tottenham eye Lille duo after raiding French club for staff

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French outlet Jeunes Footeux have claimed that Tottenham Hotspur are considering another raid on French side Lille for two of their star players, after landing two members of the Ligue 1 side’s coaching staff.

Tottenham confirmed the members of staff that would be supporting new manager Jose Mourinho in a statement on their official website on Wednesday. Two of the five new members of Mourinho’s backroom staff have been recruited from Lille.

Assistant manager Joao Sacramento has been joined by goalkeeping coach Nuno Santos in swapping Lille for north London. Now, the duo could be joined by two of Lille’s best players in Boubakary Soumare and Victor Osimhen.

Lille bought Nigeria international and speed demon Osimhen, 20, from Belgian side Charleroi in the summer, and he has hit the ground running in France. The striker, who can also play out wide, has scored nine goals in 17 games.

Two of those came in the Champions League – against Chelsea and Valencia. Osimhen is a target for Tottenham as per the report, as is France Under-21 cap Soumare. A holding midfielder, 20-year-old Soumare is in the final year of his Lille deal.

TBR’s view – Targeting Lille duo suggest different Mourinho approach

In the past, Mourinho has been known to sign players that are in their prime and ignore the calls to give game time to younger members of his squad. But signing talented, inexperienced stars is a new tact from Mourinho.

Osimhen is a stunning talent. Electrifying pace twinned with excellent finishing that has already seen him net in the Champions League will be worth a lot of Levy’s pennies. Soumare, though, could be a bit more of a bargain.

His contract – like Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld – ends next summer. Osimhen is perhaps needed more out of the two, but both would be excellent signings and a signal of intent from Mourinho.