Sevilla goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, who is reportedly on Tottenham’s radar, has admitted that he chose against leaving Sevilla last month despite several clubs coming forward with an interest in him.
AS reported a few days ago that Bounou is one of the names on Spurs’ radar to replace Hugo Lloris, and claimed that the North London club enquired about the Sevilla number one during last month’s transfer window.
The publication suggested that the Lilywhites would have submitted an offer for the Morocco star in January had they known that Lloris would be out with a long-term injury.
Tottenham’s interest in Bounou was also backed up by La Razon, who suggested over the weekend that the Premier League club are prepared to use Bryan Gil as a makeweight to sign the goalkeeper in the summer.
The report added that while the Sevilla star’s release clause stands at €50m (£44.4m), Spurs are ‘confident of achieving a significant reduction’ in the price by using Gil as part of the operation.
Bounou has now confirmed that he did have a chance to leave Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium in January but chose against doing so.
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When quizzed on why he did not leave last month, the 31-year-old told PTV Sevilla (as relayed by Mucho Deporte): “I didn’t want to insist either because I didn’t feel it.
“At first, they spoke with some teams, but with my representative, I didn’t feel it was the time to go and tell Monchi that I need to leave, look for the possibility, talk to my agent… I didn’t feel it.”
Bounou also suggested that he viewed it as his responsibility to help Sevilla get out of the difficult situation they find themselves in this season.
The goalkeeper added: “Because of the situation, first, where we were, I didn’t feel like leaving at a time like that. I don’t like to force things either.
“If someone comes that Sevilla are happy with, it’s another situation, but for me to go… no, no.
“I’m happy here I feel that the best footballers are the ones who respond to the needs of the place where they are hired before personal needs.
“Growth is not in going to I don’t know where, but in being in a place that put you in a privileged place and you have to continue doing my best to answer him.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I suspect Sevilla would be quite happy to cash in on Bounou in the summer as the La Liga club know that his stock is as high as it can be on the back of his performances for Morocco at the World Cup.
However, I am not convinced that the 31-year-old would be at the top of Tottenham’s wishlist to replace Lloris.
I expect the club to look within the Premier League for the Frenchman’s successor, with Pickford and Raya being the two most obvious candidates at the moment.
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