Tottenham are closing in on one of Europe's hottest properties with a deal for Metz teenager Pape Matar Sarr.
The 18-year-old has been linked with Chelsea, Manchester United and Man City but it appears Spurs have stolen a march on their rivals for a transfer coup.
Who is Pape Matar Sarr?
Sarr has been Metz for less than a year, having been signed on a five-year deal from feeder club Generation Foot in September 2020.
Initially a reserve team player, a strong first impression on his debut saw him quickly promoted to the first team where he went on to make 25 appearances and scored four goals last season, aged just 18 years old.
As Eduardo Camavinga rightly garnered rave reviews at Rennes, it was fellow teenager Sarr who has also been growing his reputation in Ligue 1.
Where does Sarr play?
Sarr can play across midfield, but is more in the box-to-box mould - standing at six foot tall, tough in the tackle but also with an eye for goal.
Coach Olivier Perrin, who has spent time with both Generation Foot and Metz, said on Sarr: "In Senegal, at the age of 15 and a half, he played his first match ... I immediately said to myself that he was a top player, with a very high-level [of] reading and analysing the game.
"He is [like] Miralem Pjanic.
"He can play in a system with two number 10s, he can be middle and box to box, he can be a 10, a six, it depends on the coaches."
Is the deal close?
Sarr has been heavily linked with moves to Chelsea and both City and United during the transfer window, but it is Spurs who have this week been most heavily linked.
Metz president Bernard Serin on Sunday confirmed that Spurs have a “verbal agreement” to sign Sarr, and talks over contract would continue in the final week of the transfer window. The player would spend the season back on loan at Metz.
