Tottenham have been struggling on all fronts this season.
The Lilywhites are in a bit of an internal turmoil with Thomas Frank out the door at Hotspur Way, but that has not stopped the chiefs at N17 from planning for the long term as Tottenham Hotspur fortify their interest in signing Mandela Keita.
Spurs are said to be leading the race for his signature over league rivals Aston Villa after following the 23-year-old’s progress for a long time. (h/t Parma Today)
Tottenham scouts were spotted looking at him at the turn of the year, and they have not stopped looking at him.
Mandela Keita is already a regular at Parma
Keita moved to Parma from Royal Antwerp back in August 2024 and has quickly established himself with his current employers, given that he started 24 league games last season and has already done the same twenty-two times (22) in the ongoing campaign. This in a way also shows how he is not only durable but also consistent.
And then his recent performances against Juventus, Atalanta, and Bologna have done well for his already high reputation.
Tottenham and Villa are not alone in the race for his signature. Napoli are said to have been interested in him since he was still at Antwerp. But at the time of writing, Parma has a strong hold on the negotiations, given that he is under contract with them until 2029. And if they are pushed into a sale, they are said to be looking at that €25m figure (at least).
While there is no indication that Tottenham would go in for his signature immediately, the fact that the club have continued to look at him means that the interest is at least genuine.
Author Opinion
Given that Tottenham do need a lot of reinforcements in the middle of the park, irrespective of who takes over the reins from Frank, Keita looks like a player who is versatile when it comes to tactics, but also has room to grow.
And the fact that he has been playing under Carlos Cuesta and that so regularly shows the tactical and technical part, given how the former Arsenal assistant is known to be as robust with his tactics as Mikel Arteta.
Interestingly, the aforementioned report is titled ‘Premier League awaits him’. Now it could be an early indication of how Parma fans are already expecting a big move for him along those lines.
Would you take Mandela Keita at Tottenham in the summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.