According to reports, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing OGC Nice striker Alassane Plea. The 25-year-old enjoyed a blistering campaign with Nice last term, scoring 21 goals in 48 games in all competitions.
Plea’s goalscoring exploits in Ligue 1 have not gone unnoticed as Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is understood to have turned his attention to the OGC Nice forward after struggling to lure Anthony Martial away from Manchester United.
Spurs are yet to get going in the transfer market and Pochettino’s side desperately need reinforcements to mount a serious title push next term. The club’s continued interest in United’s Martial suggests Pochettino may want another forward, who can play up front and out wide for Tottenham.
In that case, Plea would fit the bill perfectly at Tottenham. He came up through Lyon’s ranks and moved to Nice in the summer of 2014. Since joining Nice, Plea has done extremely well, especially in the last two seasons.
He scored 16 goals and provided 5 assists last season across 35 appearances in Ligue 1, while in the 2016/17 campaign, the Frenchman netted 11 goals and provided two assists in 25 league appearances.
Plea is a player who offers speed, power, trickery and most importantly goals. His main asset is his versatility as he is capable of playing out wide and even centrally with equal aplomb; although his best numbers have constantly been as an out-and-out striker.
Tottenham have been over-reliant on Harry Kane for goals and while the likes of Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min did make noteworthy contributions last season, Spurs simply need a back-up to Kane.
Fernando Llorente was signed last summer from Swansea City to ease the burden off Kane but the big Spaniard failed to make the required impact. Llorente could quit the club this summer, leaving Tottenham to once again search for a new forward as Vincent Janssen doesn’t seem to have a future at White Hart Lane.
Signing Plea could be the answer for Spurs, with the French attacker demonstrating the qualities and the influence he can have in the final third. The 25-year-old would provide competition to Kane and also act as a second-choice to the England international.
Plea is a completely different striker to the likes of Llorente and Janssen as he offers plenty of pace. He also has the strength and brute force needed to sustain in the Premier League. Also, the uncapped Frenchman’s experience of playing out wide would bode well for Pochettino’s side.
Spurs have reportedly submitted an opening bid of €25m, and even if Nice reject it, the north Londoners must make an improved offer for the versatile Frenchman. All in all, Plea would be a fantastic acquisition if Spurs can lure him away to White Hart Lane.
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