Tottenham have held face-to-face talks with Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos ahead of a potential move for the Spaniard, according to Football Insider.
The reputable football outlet claim that Pochettino is keen on the 22-year-old and has identified him as a prime target after keeping a close watch on the youngster.
Ceballos is said to be seen as a possible replacement for Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen should he leave the club in the summer, with his contract expiring in 2020.
Spanish international Ceballos has enjoyed a good spell in Zinedine Zidane’s side since joining in 2017 and has featured 34 times this season, scoring three and assisting a further two goals.
Good move for Tottenham?
Tottenham are clearly in the market for a midfielder with constant links to players such as James Maddison, Jack Grealish and Nicolo Zaniolo. Dani Ceballos is the latest name to be drawn from the hat but with the added difference that Pochettino has appeared to make the Spaniard his prime target which could show just how serious he is about this signature. There will be added fear that Christian Eriksen will leave the club after their defeat in the Champions League final on Saturday and the Danish playmaker which leave a huge hole behind him in the Spurs midfield. Should Ceballos have time on the ball and given the freedom to become one of Tottenham’s main creative sparks, Pochettino could reap the rewards.
This is Futbol rating: 7/10
Likely to happen?
As mentioned, the fear surrounding Eriksen’s future could determine any potential move sanctioned by the club. Should the Dane stay then a move for players such as Ceballos couldn’t materialise but the Spaniard is capable of playing a deep-lying playmaker role next to a tough tackling midfield partner. If Tottenham want to improve on their previous two Premier League campaigns and want to seriously challenge they need to spend money and the fact they have failed to do that in the previous two transfer windows could cast a huge shadow over the development of the move.
This is Futbol rating: 6/10