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Spurs’ Transfer Rumors: Tottenham Open Talks with Fulham’s Moussa Dembélé

By Alexander Balano

Jul 28, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino during training in advance of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 28, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino during training in advance of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Here are the latest transfer rumors involving Spurs.

The first transfer rumor today has Spurs looking to secure the services of Fulham’s Moussa Dembélé. If signed, the 19-year-old striker would be a welcome addition to Mauricio Pochettino’s first-team and start immediately alongside Harry Kane. The only holdup is trying to send a youth player who is on the fringe of the first-team the other way plus cash, as well as Fulham’s manager not interested in selling players.

Finally, here’s the last rumor. Currently the London-born English winger Yasin Ben El-Mhanni is on trial with Crystal Palace after having spent some time with West Brom on trial as well. Spurs right now have joined Liverpool in keeping tabs and scouting the 20-year-old. These are the latest rumors.

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Spurs have set their sights on a striker in the Football League Championship and that’s Fulham’s Moussa Dembélé. The French forward who is not related to Belgium’s Mousa Dembélé would be a striker who could potentially play alongside Harry Kane if signed.

But signing the 19-year-old even though his contract is running out this summer will come at a cost. According to the Daily Mail, Spurs are considering sending a fringe player plus cash in exchange for Moussa Dembélé.

Looking up and down Tottenham’s current first-team squad, the only fringe player right now who hasn’t gotten much playing time is Harry Winks. But if he’s highly rated by Mauricio Pochettino and he wants to keep the 19-year-old, then a potential player to be traded would have to come from Spurs’ youth academy instead.

This season, the French striker has made 27 appearances, scored 11 goals and has two assists in all competitions and has already gotten the same amount of production that Harry Kane has. Which is 28 appearances, 14 goals and two assists, also in all competitions.

Because of Spurs’ decision to add a youth player into the mix, apparently Fulham’s Director of Football, Mike Rigg (director of football operations perhaps), is contemplating a move to seal the deal. Of course while Rigg is open to the idea of trading one player for another plus getting cash, instead of losing Moussa Dembélé for nothing, the Cottagers manager isn’t.

Here’s Fulham’s manager, Slaviša Jokanović:

“I am not thinking about selling my key players like Ross McCormack or Moussa Dembele,” Jokanović said.

“They are good players, I have only been working with them for two days but I expect both can offer more things than they did against Sheffield Wednesday.”

“I don’t plan for it and that is it. This team needs some fresh blood and we are thinking about some players who can help us in the future.”

Yasin Ben El-Mhanni is a 20-year-old non-league player who is currently on trial with Crystal Palace after spending some time with West Bromwich Albion on trial too. Right now, based on the Daily Mail’s article, Spurs haven shown interest in the forward and is joining Liverpool in trying to complete a deal if at all possible.

The London-born winger is a member of Lewes who currently play in the Ryman Premier League. Due to his form this season, Yasin Ben El-Mhanni has been dubbed the “non-league Riyad Mahrez” based on his skill and pace.

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As a left winger, predominately, he would already be competing with Nacer Chadli and Christian Eriksen to be named as the starter or at the very least first-choice backup option as a substitute.

Along with playing on the left flank, El-Mhanni can play on the opposite side as a right midfielder/winger and even inside as the team’s attacking midfielder. That kind of versatility makes him comparable to Son Heung-min right now except for playing as a striker.

Now based on the English winger’s recent interest picking up steam with a trial at West Brom and now Crystal Palace, not to mention Liverpool and Spurs scouting the 20-year-old. There’s a chance that the non-league footballer could become a Premier League player if he’s offered a contract.

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Yasin Ben El-Mhanni’s previous club history saw him start out with Barnet’s youth academy at the Under-19 level before transferring to Aldershot’s U-19s. Afterwards El-Mhanni would swicth to Farnborough before finally landing with Lewes.

Taking an interest in Yasin Ben El-Mhanni is a continuing trend now for Spurs and something that should be very common moving forward in the next summer and winter transfer windows. It’s not a flashy move by any means but it definitely points to a future mindset that relatively unknown footballers who are cheap to sign will make as much of an impact as someone who’s more known and will get paid double or triple the transfer fee and weekly wages by other clubs.