Take DiMarzio rumours about Kounde to Tottenham with grain of salt

I hope I’m wrong but DiMarzio’s latest report that Tottenham and Sevilla have agreed terms to a swap deal between Davinson Sanchez and Jules Kounde feels rather unlikely.  

Saying outright the two sides have a agreed to a swap deal that would see Spurs send £26 million plus Sanzhez in return for Kounde is a ballsy call, one you’d assume has some veracity behind it. DiMarzio is usually a reliable football outlet which conscientiously evaluates information before disseminating it.

Though they have carefully covered themselves on breaking this particular story. DiMarzio states that the prospective deal is predicated on Kounde’s approval to join Tottenham. That’s a pretty big if, especially considering how Kounde has already publicly stated his vested interest in playing in next season’s Champions League.

Additionally, the player in question usually agrees to the move before both teams reach an agreeable accord. It feels very peculiar indeed to have a deal of this magnitude awaiting the player’s approval.

A Kounde-Sanchez swap deal feels palpably too good to be true. Kounde is touted to be worth about £50 million, and it would be surprising to see Sevilla sell him for anything less. The Spanish club could be interested in Sanchez’s upside, but not enough to gamble on him in a swap deal for their most prized young asset.

Though I’ve been wrong before, this deal probably won’t manifest into anything more than headline fodder.

Maybe my viewpoint is tainted because of Tottenham’s sordid past on the transfer market, with the club almost completing numerous blockbuster deals which never quite materialize. This feels like a headline better suited to a juggernaut side players cannot turn down. Unfortunately that belies the current state of affairs at Tottenham. It’s hard to convince top players to sign when Champions League football is not part of the offer.

Though I’ll hold out hope that I’m way off the mark on this one. Imagine signing Kounde and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the same week. Now that news, albeit seemingly farfetched, would position Spurs perfectly as they round the bend on what has thus far been yet another disappointing offseason. There is, however, still enough time to turn it around.

It could even be enough, if you add on the potential signing of Danny Ings, to convince Harry Kane to stay put for at least another season.