Ligue 1 side OGC Nice are reportedly interested in taking Tottenham Hotspur prospect Bryan Gil on loan this month.
According to L’Equipe, high flying OGC Nice are seeking to land Tottenham Hotspur starlet Bryan Gil on loan in the ongoing January transfer window.
The Ligue 1 club is currently in the second spot in the French top-flight and are enjoying a good season. They are currently 11 points off Paris Saint-Germain at the top with 19 games to go, a difficult gap to bridge given the quality at Mauricio Pochettino’s disposal.
With the chasing pack led by Marseille within touching distance, Nice should be more concerned about holding onto the second spot. Doing so will allow them to compete in next season’s UEFA Champions League. Nice have not featured in the continental competition since 1959/60, and gaining qualification will be an achievement in itself.
Christophe Galtier’s side can do with a few reinforcements in the ongoing winter transfer window to aid their cause. One of the names on their list is Tottenham sensation Bryan Gil. The Spaniard moved to North London last summer from Sevilla. He has shown moments of quality for Spurs but is yet to establish himself as a first-team regular. The 20-year-old has made 19 appearances, providing one assist in that time.
Gil is a versatile player with good vision – a left-winger who can also do a job on the other flank or through the middle. However, he is behind Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura in the Tottenham attacking setup. Steven Bergwijn has also picked up his game, and following his heroics against Leicester City, he could be set to play a bigger role in the games to come.
With Dele Alli and Tanguy Ndombele also in the mix for now, Gil has plenty of competition for his position. The same cannot be said of Nice, where he might find opportunities easier to come by. The Ligue 1 outfit is set to welcome back Mario Lemina but is without Youcel Atal, who is still at the Africa Cup of Nations. Fresh blood in the transfer window will certainly aid their cause and bring renewed energy for a strong finish.
Gil harbours hopes of making the Spain squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup but is unlikely to do so if he continues to warm the bench at Tottenham. Moving to Nice, especially if it can guarantee him regular playtime, could be a good option for the Spanish prospect.
But a potential departure will leave Tottenham short of options up front. Antonio Conte’s side lacks strength in depth in attack, a weakness that could bite them given the busy schedule they face in the coming months. Tottenham had several games postponed in December and January owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and will now need to accommodate them into their schedule in the coming months.
Conte will need to rotate his squad, and having Gil out of the equation could leave him short of options. Spurs are closing in on Adama Traore, and although the Spaniard can play on the wings, Conte intends to deploy him as a right wing-back.
Hence, it can be argued that the Wolves star’s arrival will do little to directly offset Gil’s potential departure. Both Gil and Tottenham seemingly have a decision to make in the next few days.
