Tottenham have made an approach to sign Paris Saint-Germain left-back Laywin Karzawa, according to the Times.
The newspaper claim Spurs have made an enquiry for the France international, 25, as they look for a replacement for Danny Rose on deadline day.
The Times report Schalke are keen on England international Rose but he wants to keep his options open until the European transfer window shuts at the end of this month.
Good move for Tottenham?
Offloading key players who are proven in the Premier League is hardly a statement of a club of ambition. Rose has failed to rediscover his pre-January 2017 form since breaking down with a knee injury that month but he remains a mighty fine left-back. Indeed, many Spurs fans rate him above Ben Davies due to his greater mobility and threat on the overlap. Quite why Spurs are willing to offload a top performer at his peak – Rose turned 28 last month – is something of a mystery. Karzawa is three years younger and an 11-times France international who was a regular for French champions PSG last season. He is certainly no mug, but he also failed to make his country’s World Cup squad, while Rose did, and he would take time to settle in the Premier League.
This Is Futbol rating 4/10
Likely to happen?
It’s certainly a possibility, especially as Tottenham appear minded to let Rose go, either permanently or on loan this month. Spurs signed a full-back from PSG on deadline day last year – Serge Aurier – so don’t rule out a repeat of that, although it remains to be seen whether the French club would countenance a last-gasp sale of a first team player.
This Is Futbol rating 5/10