Spurs Ask About French Under-21 Centre-back Mukiele

Spurs Have Asked About The Availability Of French Under-21 Right-back/Centre-back Nordi Mukiele

Pochettino is regularly having Nordi Mukiele watched

Tottenham Hotspur are regularly scouting 20-year-old (21 in November) Montpellier centre-back Nordi Mukiele, a rising star in Ligue 1 and are reported by Le 10 Sport to have made initial enquiries about his situation.

First the basics, he is 1.86m tall (6ft 1in in proper money) and under contract until 2022,he moved to Montpellier from second-division side Stade Laval for £1.35 million in January 2017

He is a French Under-21 international (capped twice) who is also qualified to play for DR Congo.

This season he has played at centre-back 21 times and at right-back 12 times, with 1 game at right midfield. That suggests he has the adaptability that Mauricio Pochettino likes. Transfermarkt place his current valuation at £7.2 million.


Pochettino likes adaptable players because they cover several positions, but also because it keeps the individual involved and a part of the group. The more active the member of a squad the better generally, without over working of course.

Olympique Marseille are also keeping an eye on him and are said to be wanting to make a move in the summer. He played against them in a 0-0 draw last Sunday and by all accounts had an excellent game. Right-footed, he played left sided centrally in a back five.

Reports in France suggest players and coaches are tipping big things for Mukiele and suggestions over here say Manchester City and Chelsea are taking an interest. He is powerful and quick, is making waves having never played in the system he is playing in today.

Montpellier boss Michel Der Zakarian, a former defender praises him.

"He's got a lot of potential. He's an intelligent player, he's good in the air, reads the game well and is comfortable with the ball."

The defender admits he isn't the finished article and that he has lapses in concentration that he is working on with the help of his 40-year-old captain, Vitorino Hilton, beside him. He is strong in the air, comfortable with the ball at his feet and has all the attributes of a modern day full-back/wing-back.

Montpellier sit 6th in the French table with the second best defensive record in the division. They have conceded only 26 goals in 32 games, PSG (1st) have conceded 22 goals, while Monaco (2nd) and Amiens SC (13th) have conceded 34 goals.

COYS

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