On the latest episode of The View from the Lane podcast, Athletic journalists Jack Pitt-Brooke, James Maw, and Charlie Eccleshare have been discussing the latest on-goings at the north London club. This also included a discussion about Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, with Eccleshare suggesting that Spurs tracked the French forward.
Eccleshare recently wrote an article for The Athletic along with Jack Lang, in which he documented some of the well-renowned players that Spurs have come close to signing in recent years. This perhaps led to a discussion of the topic of ‘nearly signings’ on the most recent episode of The View from the Lane podcast, on which the Athletic journalist names Kylian Mbappe as a player who Spurs had on their radar not so long ago.
Here’s what Eccleshare said:
“Guys like [Anthony] Martial and Mbappe, who were on their radar and they really wanted to bring in, but it didn’t quite work out like that because once you have Europe’s superclubs sniffing around, the prices become prohibitive.
“Because Tottenham had the stadium build, they’re just not going to go out and spend the sums required for some of those players.”
TIF Thoughts…
In the last few years, Mbappe has established himself as one of, if not the best youngster in world football. In 2018, the striker completed a £130.5 million transfer to PSG, having spent the previous season on loan from AS Monaco (per Transfermarkt).
During his time with Les Parisiens, the 21-year-old has contributed an incredible 90 goals and 49 assists in just 120 games (per Transfermarkt).
Do you think Spurs ever had any chance of signing Mbappe?
Yes
No
Of course, it is easy to suggest that the World Cup-winning striker would have proved to be an excellent signing for Spurs, although considering the price he eventually left Monaco for, it is also easy to see why Daniel Levy perhaps didn’t sanction an official approach for the youngster, despite Spurs reportedly having had him ‘on their radar’.
The North London club may now have to focus on finding their own version of Mbappe, as with the 21-year-old valued at £162 million, it is hard to see him leaving the Ligue 1 side anytime soon.