AVB explains why he is reluctant to play rumoured Spurs target

Andre Villas-Boas has revealed that he has been reluctant to play rumoured Tottenham target Isaac Lihadji due to his contract situation.

The former Tottenham Hotspur boss is now in charge of Marseille and has made two appearances for the Ligue 1 side this season (transfermarkt).

The 17-year-old winger has been linked with both Arsenal and Tottenham with the North London rivals having said to have opened talks with Lihadji’s representatives (Foot Mercato).

Lihadji made his first team debut in September, playing 12 minutes against Dijon and has only appeared once since when he made an 11-minute cameo against Amiens in October.

Villas-Boas has claimed that he is protecting the interests of the club with his reluctance to give him more game time until he signs a new deal with the French outfit.

Lihadji is out of contract at the end of the season and the former Spurs boss is waiting to hold discussions with the player’s agent rather than continue to increase his appeal with further appearances only for him to leave the club.

AVB tried to justify his stance of being opento play young talent with the comparison of his willingness to play 18-year-old midfielder Marley Ake.

“We are still waiting for contact with his agent,” Villas-Boas told L’Equipe.

“I’m waiting for the signature to give him some play time and, in Toulouse, I chose Marley (Aké)to enter the last minutes. I defend the colors of the club.

“There may be the interest of other clubs and it’s starting to play on him, I don’t know. I could benefit from it at the moment but why? So that he then plays in Monaco, at PSG? What interest for OM his training club? I defend the interests of the club perhaps against myself. But between Aké, who has a future here, and Isaac, I make choices,” he added.