Tottenham could be on the case of Benoit Badiashile after extensive scouting of the French U-21 captain.
According to Football London’s detailed report on Tottenham’s summer plans, there’s mention of Benoit Badiashile, as the outlet suggests Spurs scouted the French Under-21 captain, making him a potential summer target. The north Londoners are in the market for a reliable centre-back, and an approach is possible for the Monaco star.
Young central defenders often get swept under the radar despite important performances throughout the season. Benoit Badiashile’s displays for Monaco helped them finish third in Ligue 1, and the 21-year-old was among the top centre-halves in the French top-flight.
Naturally, club scouts across the continent have been tracking Badiashile, with Tottenham having scouted the French Under-21 captain extensively, indicating a summer move could be on the cards.
Despite missing a chunk of the season due to hamstring problems, Badiashile managed to put in magnificent displays in the 24 league games he played. A host of clubs from the Premier League have been on his case, including Chelsea, Manchester United, West Ham and Newcastle United, in the last few months.
The report insists that Badiashile features on Tottenham’s shortlist of centre-backs as Antonio Conte eyes defensive solutions ahead of the new season. The 21-year-old is one of the names considered by director Fabio Paratici, along with Barcelona’s Clement Lenglet, Villarreal’s Pau Torres, Torino’s Gleison Bremer and Crystal Palace’s young star Marc Guehi.
Conte wants competition for places in the squad and has made the signing of a left-sided centre-back a priority. Ben Davies is the only current option available to the Italian, although there could be further changes with Davinson Sanchez possibly leaving.
Badiashile fits the mould of a centre-back desired by Conte, as he can take up positions on either side of the pitch. His age means that the AS Monaco ace would be a long-term investment for the club, who can develop into a leader of the team in the years to come.
Monaco are certain to demand a significantly high price. The French giants have a history of developing players and selling them for massive profits, as seen with Real Madrid’s latest acquisition Aurelien Tchouameni, who went for around €100 million.
Badiashile’s current value as per Transfermarkt is €30 million. Still, Monaco could be expected to demand much more than that sum, despite the defender having just two years left on his contract. Whether the Frenchman will be a viable option for Conte this season remains to be seen, although, from an investment standpoint, it could be a wise decision if the price is right.
