Tottenham may ditch Ross Barkley interest if Mauricio Pochettino can sign £25m-rated Pape Cheikh Diop

  • Tottenham could end their pursuit of Everton midfielder Ross Barkley
  • Spurs like Barkley but are yet to make an offer as they feel he is overpriced
  • Pape Cheikh Diop and Davinson Sanchez are also Tottenham transfer targets
  • Spurs will think about quitting the Barkley race if they can sign Diop and Sanchez

Tottenham will consider abandoning a bid for Ross Barkley if they succeed in signing Pape Cheikh Diop and Davinson Sanchez.

Mauricio Pochettino admires Everton and England midfielder Barkley but Tottenham have yet to bid for the 23-year-old as they believe he is over priced with a year remaining on his contract.

Tottenham have targeted athletic box-to-box midfielder Diop at Celta Vigo, though will offer less than his £25million buyout clause, while they are preparing to bid £35m for Ajax defender Davinson Sanchez this week.

Tottenham are keen on signing Senegal midfielder Pape Cheikh Diop, 20, from Celta Vigo

Tottenham are keen on signing Senegal midfielder Pape Cheikh Diop, 20, from Celta Vigo

Diop has a release clause in his contract worth £25m, but Spurs hope to pay less than that

Diop has a release clause in his contract worth £25m, but Spurs hope to pay less than that

Between them, they can play in the positions Barkley would occupy - attacking and central midfield role - and Tottenham's coaching staff believe that would satisfy their requirements in the middle of the park.


They still intend to add another forward and full back, plus a goalkeeper, with Southampton's Paulo Gazzaniga their likely option.

Ajax have moved to offer 21-year-old Sanchez a new contract in light of Tottenham's interest but the clubs have a good working relationship and the Dutch recognise a £35m-plus offer may be too good to turn down.

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and other Premier League sides have also expressed interest in the Colombian.

For Barkley, Chelsea and Arsenal have been closely monitoring his situation with Ronald Koeman this week stating: 'We won’t let him go cheap, of course not.

'We have the experience of what we need to pay for players who came here and had one year of contract. If there is a club thinking we can wait until the last day and we put some money on the table and we get Ross Barkley, sorry, you do not get Ross Barkley.'

Spurs are also keen on signing Ajax defender Davinson Sanchez and are preparing a £35m bid

Spurs are also keen on signing Ajax defender Davinson Sanchez and are preparing a £35m bid

Should Spurs sign Diop and Sanchez they may decide to abandon their interest in Ross Barkley

Should Spurs sign Diop and Sanchez they may decide to abandon their interest in Ross Barkley