Several Premier League clubs have already commenced their transfer business this summer, once again spending some eye-watering fees.
Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion have particularly kept themselves busy, with the former splashing out more than £200m on arrivals.
The Premier League duo aren’t done with their spending yet, either. They’re now joining Aston Villa in the race to sign young midfield star Ousmane Diabate.
|
Football FanCast’s Verdict |
|
|---|---|
|
Credibility |
It’s been the summer of midfielders in the Premier League and Aston Villa have recently joined the party, agreeing a deal to sign Johan Manzambi before selling Youri Tielemans to Manchester United. Now, they’ve got Ousmane Diabate in their sights, but face competition from Spurs and Brighton, who have also made in-person checks on the teenager. |
|
Finances |
In a summer full of absurd fees, Diabate is likely to come a lot cheaper. He’s a future star and will prioritise minutes over anything else when looking to make his next move away from Genclerbirligi in Turkey. |
|
Scouting |
The teenager has already been compared to N’Golo Kante, such is the way he operates as a midfield destroyer. Whether he follows in the Frenchman’s path by joining the Premier League as an unknown gem remains to be seen, however. |
|
Impact |
Diabate won’t steal immediate headlines, but it would represent an impressive coup for whoever wins the race for his signature with so much interest in his arrival. |
At 18 years old, Diabate is quickly becoming a man in-demand, as a race between several Premier League sides erupts.
Tottenham complete in-person checks on Diabate
According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham have now completed in-person checks on Diabate alongside Aston Villa, Brighton and Brentford. The 18-year-old midfielder is quickly becoming one to watch and is ready to green-light a move on the condition that he receives the right game-time to develop further.
Whether that puts Spurs at a disadvantage is the big question. They’ve already spent big to welcome Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali. Game time will come at a premium for any options outside the first-team setup as a result and that may force Diabate to prioritise other clubs.
Why Diabate should prioritise Brighton move
If Diabate is looking to develop as a young player, then there’s not a better place to do that in English football than Brighton these days. The Seagulls have become experts at recruiting young stars from afar and turning them into big-money players that top six clubs have so often snapped up.
It’s a difficult process and one that’s seen them sell almost every star player over the years, but one that is also working almost every season.
With rumours continuing to surround Carlos Baleba, Diabate could be the perfect option to arrive in Sussex and act as an instant replacement this summer. Brighton could need a midfielder and he’s looking to develop. It’s the perfect match.