Defender could make shock switch across North London, if Tottenham cash-in next month.
Arsenal and Newcastle are the latest clubs to express an interest in Tottenham full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto – but it is thought Spurs are not interested in selling the defender.
Chelsea have been linked with a £5m January move for the 28-year-old, while the Gunners and Newcastle are also understood to have made enquiries about Assou-Ekotto’s availability.
The Cameroon international has been sidelined for most of the season with a knee injury, starting just three Premier League matches this term.
Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas has used summer signing Jan Vertonghen at left-back and is reluctant to switch the Belgian back to centre-half, now that Assou-Ekotto is fit.
Chelsea have identified Southampton’s Luke Shaw, 17, as a long-term replacement for Ashley Cole but want Assou-Ekotto as an experienced stop-gap.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are in need of a new left-back, with Kieran Gibbs often unfit and Andre Santos woeful.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is an admirer of Assou-Ekotto, who was brought to White Hart Lane by the Frenchman’s former chief scout Damien Comolli during his tenure as director of football at Spurs.
Wenger tried to sign Assou-Ekotto from Lens before he joined London rivals Spurs and Arsenal could make a dramatic move for him in January.
Spurs, however, are not interested in listening to offers for the Cameroonian and will reject any approaches for the defender.
Download the free fanatix app now for iPhone: Sport news, social features and more!
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr:
COMMENTS