Nice have now confirmed the signing of Nigerian starlet Victor Orakpo and it has emerged that the Ligue 1 side saw off competition from Tottenham to land the player.
Nice have announced on their official website that Orakpo has now signed a long-term contract at the Allianz Riviera, while journalist Sebastian Denis has now taken to social media to reveal how the race unfolded.
He stated that Tottenham were one of the clubs who had been alerted to the powerful forward, who first hit the spotlight in an international tournament organised by Bayern Munich in 2022.
Nice beat the likes of Tottenham to Victor Orakpo
Denis claimed that although Spurs, Bayern, Newcastle and AC Milan were also keen on the 18-year-old it was Nice who moved first to sink the defining blow.
He explained that the French club handed Orakpo a trial and after he was impressed, quickly decided to offer the player a contract.
The report added that the lanky 1.94-metre forward is not expected to be at Nice’s academy for too long and is soon expected to graduate to the first-team squad.
Spurs Web Opinion
Given that Tottenham have shifted their transfer strategy towards looking for the best young, up-and-coming talent across world football, it is no surprise that they were keen on Orakpo.
French football is usually the most comfortable landing spot for many African players when they arrive in Europe, which is why Nice perhaps had a big advantage in the race for the teenager.