Darren Bent has likened a Premier League star admired by Tottenham to Gareth Bale, but he does believe the player will be heading to N17.
It has been widely reported that Tottenham want to make an ambitious attacking signing in January, with the Lilywhites ready to spend big on a wide-forward.
A lot of Spurs fans are clear on who the club’s top January target should be, particularly after it broke earlier this week that Antoine Semenyo has a £65m release clause in his contract.
It has been widely reported that Tottenham have been admirers of Semenyo for a long time and are extremely keen on bringing the Bournemouth winger through the door.
Darren Bent likens Antoine Semenyo to Gareth Bale
Bent arrived at Tottenham in the summer of 2007, the same window as Gareth Bale, who struggled for the first year and a half at White Hart Lane.
However, Bent, who witnessed the start of Bale’s upward trajectory after being moved from left-back to left-wing, suggested that Semenyo reminds him of his former Tottenham teammate when he runs with the ball.
The pundit told talkSPORT about the Cherries star: “He has exploded out of the traps this season and he just looks really comfortable in himself. Every game you see him do something and you go, ‘Oh my goodness’… he’s one of those rare players, and I call players like this unstoppable. Gareth Bale was like that.
“When I talk about unstoppable, I’m talking about their attributes. When Bale started to move, you just couldn’t stop him, and Semenyo is the same. Once he gets going, he’s going past people, and he’s gliding. What’s good about him is that he can go both ways. I think he’s got the full package.”
Bent wants to see Premier League giants beat Spurs to Semenyo
It has been reported by some sources over recent days that Liverpool have moved ahead of Tottenham in the race for Semenyo.
In fact, it has been alleged that Spurs are fearful of competition from Liverpool for the Bournemouth man, which is why the Lilywhites are also looking at other alternatives.
Bent believes that Arne Slot’s men should not think twice about snapping up the Spurs target, given Mohammed Salah’s struggles this term.
The former Tottenham striker added: “For so long now, Liverpool have been able to depend on Salah on that right-hand side, season upon season, and don’t get me wrong, he’s been one of the best players we’ve ever seen in this country. But the signs are that he potentially is slowing down a fraction. Now, all of a sudden, you have to start addressing both sides.”
“I think he [Semenyo] would go to Liverpool. I think he can get into any top, top squad,” he added.
“You’re still going to get more than enough minutes but it depends on his ambition. His ambition might be: ‘Get me to Manchester City, I’m better than Doku,’ that might be his mindset.”