---
title: "Tottenham Hotspur: Jonathan Leko attracted Spurs’ interest during Pochettino era"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/spurs-eyed-jonathan-leko-swoop-west-brom/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Emilio Galantini"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2020-10-21T12:00:08Z"
modified: "2020-10-21T12:00:08Z"
---

# Tottenham Hotspur: Jonathan Leko attracted Spurs’ interest during Pochettino era

**Speaking in an exclusive interview with [Birmingham Live](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leko-birmingham-city-norwich-tv-19130175.amp), former West Brom caretaker manager Jimmy Shan has opened up over Birmingham City’s new £1m signing Jonathan Leko, mentioning that Tottenham were interested in a [£5m swoop](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leko-birmingham-city-norwich-tv-19130175.amp) for the youngster when he was up-and-coming.**

Leko, who put pen to paper on a deal with the Blues over summer, swapping one part of the Midlands for another, is now attempting to propel his promising career five seasons after [making his Premier League debut](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35902670) for West Brom.

\[freshpress-poll id=”331506″\]

### Shan’s Leko revelation

A teenager at the time, Leko made a handful of top-flight appearances for the Baggies over 2016/17 whilst displaying real potential – so much so that Spurs were apparently contemplating a £5m bid for his services.

In an exclusive with Birmingham Live, Shan has claimed that the figure was ‘[bandied around](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leko-birmingham-city-norwich-tv-19130175.amp)‘ at that time, with Tottenham allegedly showing a serious interest in bringing the youngster to Hotspur Way during Mauricio Pochettino’s time in charge.

The former Baggies caretaker boss has hailed Leko as an ‘[absolute steal](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leko-birmingham-city-norwich-tv-19130175.amp)‘ at that price, especially given his brilliant form for Charlton last season before a [campaign-ending cruciate ligament injury.](https://www.cafc.co.uk/news/view/5e05fc63cbb5e/jonathan-leko-ruled-out-of-season-with-injury) Scoring [five goals and assisting four others](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jonathan-leko/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/314266) under Lee Bowyer during the first half of 2019/20, that spell of form was enough to make Birmingham take the plunge.

### Transfer Tavern take

Former Premier League manager Tony Pulis is also an admirer of Leko from his days at The Hawthorns, claiming he had ‘[raw talent](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11698/10264821/west-brom-boss-praises-jonathan-leko-performance)‘ after making his first Premier League start against West Ham in 2016.

He was also the [first player born in 1999 to start a Premier League game](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11698/10264821/west-brom-boss-praises-jonathan-leko-performance), and if Levy went through with a swoop during Leko’s formative footballing years, who knows how the player would have fared in north London.

***Tottenham fans, should your club have signed Leko? Have your say in the comments down below…***