Tottenham have reportedly established contact with OGC Nice over a possible move for Jean Michael Seri in the summer.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, Tottenham have set their sights on Jean Michael Seri, and have submitted their initial enquiries to Nice for the player. Arsenal, AS Roma and Barcelona are also interested in signing the Ivory Coast midfielder in the summer transfer window.
Seri has shot into limelight, having been a key figure for Nice in 2016/17. The French Riviera club were the surprise package in Ligue 1 in the recently concluded season as they finished third to ensure qualification to the Champions League for the first time.
A mainstay in midfield, the Ivory Coast international was one of the standout players for Nice, making 39 appearances across all competitions for his side while bagging seven goals and nine assists. And his exploits for the Ligue 1 outfit haven’t gone unnoticed, with several clubs making a beeline for the player.
Arsenal are one such club that have been heavily linked with a move for Seri. The Gunners failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, and Arsene Wenger is, thus, eager to rebuild his squad this summer to ensure a Top 4 finish in the forthcoming campaign.
Midfield has emerged as one of the areas that needs strengthening following the inconsistent showings from the likes of Mohamed Elneny, Francis Coquelin and Aaron Ramsey. Additionally, Jack Wilshere’s future at the Emirates is uncertain while Santi Cazorla has been troubled by a spate of injuries.
As a result, Seri is being eyed as a possible partner for Granit Xhaka at the heart of Arsenal’s midfield next season. The Gunners, though, face stiff competition from their North London rivals, Tottenham, with Mauricio Pochettino believed to be a huge admirer of the player’s talents.
Spurs enjoyed another spectacular campaign in 2016/17. But, having fallen short of winning the Premier League yet again, the Argentine is eager to bolster his squad. And even though midfield is one of the stronger suits for Tottenham, the club are seeking a move for Seri this summer.
The interest in Seri, perhaps, stems from the fact that Eric Dier often drops back into a back-three whenever Pochettino shuffles his systems, leaving the Tottenham boss with Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele as his only options. Seri is, hence, a viable option for Pochettino to consider.
Meanwhile, Barcelona are also reported to be keeping a keen eye on the player, while AS Roma have already had their initial bid of £20 million rejected. The Italian club are planning further talks with Nice this week, but the Ligue 1 club will not sell Seri for any price below his £35 million release clause.
It now remains to be seen if Tottenham are willing to break their transfer record by forking out the aforementioned figure. Seri, though, seems to have sparked an all out transfer battle for his services and it will be interesting to see where his next destination lies.
