PSG are reportedly set to beat Tottenham in the race to sign 19-year-old wonderkid Juan Foyth from Estudiantes this summer
According to a report in the London Evening Standard, PSG have taken a decisive lead in pursuit of Juan Foyth. Tottenham were believed to be the hot favourites to sign the Estudiantes defender this summer, but Les Parisiens have now emerged as the front runners in the player’s pursuit.
Foyth progressed through the ranks at Estudiantes before making his senior debut at the Argentine club earlier this year. The 19-year-old has made rapid strides with his boyhood club, and is widely regarded as one of the most promising young defenders in Argentina currently.
Earmarked as the one to watch out for in the coming years, Foyth has impressed with his composed demeanour on the pitch as well as his reading of the game. On top of that, his abilities on the ball make him a unique defender and his dribbling abilities are widely revered in Argentina.
The teenager is also a fully fledged member of the Argentine under-20 side, and has represented his country at the under-20 World Cup as well as the South American Championship. And while he has only made 7 appearances for the Estudiantes’ senior side, he has made a big enough impression to attract interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
#thfc are set to miss out on Estudiantes defender Juan Foyth as PSG are now close to completing a €9.5M deal. [@HernanSCastillo] pic.twitter.com/WhH9HrF2GL
— Hotspur Related (@HotspurRelated) July 19, 2017
In fact, Foyth had been poised to join Tottenham this summer following the North London club’s long-held discussions with Estudiantes, before PSG stormed into the lead in the race to sign the youngster by tabling a better offer.
At Tottenham, Mauricio Pochettino has a well settled squad that has rapidly grown in confidence to establish themselves as genuine contenders for the Premier League title. But as he so cruelly found out last season, the Lilywhites need strength in depth to thrive in Europe.
Therefore, the Tottenham boss is delving into the transfer market to make reinforcements all across the park in order to strengthen his squad and challenge on all fronts next season. While Harry Maguire has been rumoured to be the centre-back closest to sealing a move to the North London club, Foyth has emerged as a top target.
Meanwhile, PSG, too, are in the market for a centre-back, with Unai Emery eager to bolster his central defensive options this summer as well. The French giants had been strongly linked with a move for Pepe before the Portuguese veteran chose to join Besiktas instead.
They have, thus, turned their attention towards Foyth over a possible move, with the report suggesting that they have even taken the lead in the race to sign him. While both clubs are ready to pay Estudiates’ £8 million asking price, only PSG are willing to pay the entire amount up front.
Tottenham, on the other hand, have offered to make an initial payment of £5.4 million, with a further £2.6 million in bonuses. With the prospect of not recouping the aforementioned figure in its entirety from the Premier League club, Estudiantes are leaning towards selling Foyth to PSG.
Regardless of where he heads off to this summer, the player has the potential to be a long-term solution at the heart of defence for both Tottenham and PSG, with experienced heads in Toby Alderweireld and Thiago Silva present to groom and guide him. It now remains to be seen if Tottenham can manage to usurp PSG in their bid to sign the player.
