---
title: "Tottenham Hotspur: Thomas Lemar swoop seems unlikely, suggests ESPN’s Steve Nicol"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-hotspur-thomas-lemar-swoop-seems-unlikely-suggests-espns-steve-nicol/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Stephan Georgiou"
section: "Features"
published: "2020-01-07T09:00:17Z"
modified: "2020-01-07T09:00:17Z"
---

# Tottenham Hotspur: Thomas Lemar swoop seems unlikely, suggests ESPN’s Steve Nicol

**Former footballer Steve Nicol is not buying into reports that have linked Atletico Madrid winger Thomas Lemar with a potential move to Tottenham Hotspur.**

\[freshpress-poll id=”270444″\]

Last week, Tottenham were thought to have started discussions over a possible move for the Frenchman, according to [Foot Mercato](https://www.footmercato.net/liga/transferts/info-fm-tottenham-s-interesse-a-thomas-lemar_270802).

Speaking about the chances of Spurs succeeding in a deal to bring the 24-year-old to north London for [ESPN FC](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD1oheUo49Y), Nicol pointed to the enormous transfer fee they may have to part with as well as Lemar’s poor record in front of goal this season.

He said: “What this guy’s shown at Atleti, you wouldn’t buy him in a heartbeat. He’s got no goals and no assists! What is he, £90m?

“Right now, regardless of the currency, who’s going to part with any money for this guy? Unless it’s a no-brainer, unless you’re getting him for £20m.

“Are Atleti really going to turn around after spending that amount of money on him, not far off 12 months ago, and let him go for £20m? I just don’t see it, at all.”

Whatever Lemar’s price tag, it seems clear that Nicol should perhaps undertake some more research – mainly as the World Cup winner moved to Madrid for [€72m](https://www.footmercato.net/liga/transferts/info-fm-tottenham-s-interesse-a-thomas-lemar_270802) (around £61.3m in today’s money).

However, that is nevertheless a steep value for a player with [no goals or assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/thomas-lemar/leistungsdaten/spieler/205562) in any of his 21 appearances for the club this season, even if he has started just 10 of those.

That said, this is a player who possesses some promise, with his exploits in helping Monaco to the Ligue 1 title in 2016/17 attracting the interest of Arsenal, who reportedly failed with a bid of around [£92m](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11014100/arsenal-bid-92m-to-sign-thomas-lemar-from-monaco) for his services that summer – which is possibly where Nicol had his wires crossed.

But with [Foot Mercato](https://www.footmercato.net/liga/transferts/info-fm-tottenham-s-interesse-a-thomas-lemar_270802) suggesting that Spurs would have to match what Atletico Madrid paid for the player in mid-2018, Nicol may be right in eventually suggesting that the move is probably off the cards – especially considering Tottenham were unfamiliarly [heavy spenders](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tottenham-hotspur/transfers/verein/148) in the previous window.

***Spurs fans, how much would you be happy to spend on Thomas Lemar? Share your thoughts below!***