Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with young French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta this summer, with L'Equipe having reported a four-year deal to be on the table.
Mateta scored a hat-trick forChateauroux in his first game of the Ligue 2 season, leading the line in a 5-2 win for his club in midweek.
Tottenham Hotspur have offered a 4-year contract to promising French forward Jean-Philippe Mateta [L'Equipe] #COYS pic.twitter.com/DRKpR39MUe
Chateauroux are desperate to keep him, but they might find that hard with a few days left to go in the transfer window.
The player's representativeshave spoken out on the matter, claiming that the 19-year-old doesn't want to move to England, and prefers to remain in his native land. They also confirmed an offer from Ligue 1 side Lyon.
Speaking to Foot Mercato (H/TGet French FootballNews)Franck Belhassen said:On the one hand there is what Jerome Leroy (advisor to the president of Châteauroux) is saying and on the other hand what we are actually doing.
"Concerning Tottenham, it is quite clear that the player does not want to go abroad.
"He is 19, he does not want to skip steps. Few players have succeeded abroad at such a young age. He is a very reasonable boy and well looked after by his family. He knows what he wants to do. And Tottenham¦ as a club they probably have other fish to fry with five days left of the window.�
Pascal Elbaz, another agent, also chipped in with the following:Lyon called Châteauroux then we had them on the phone.
"They are certainly interested in the player, they like this sort of deal, like what they have done for Cornet, Tousart and Kemen. He is a player who is very well-liked by President Aulas and Florian Maurice.
"There is a real interest on their part, a real desire. Now, we are discussing their project. Lyon want to do a permanent transfer, whereas other clubs want to loan him back. To sign for Lyon is interesting for every player, we are talking about a very great French club that is playing Champions League football virtually every year.
"For Lyon, it could be interesting to have him in their squad immediately, maybe to allow him to progress in Ligue 1 little by little before he explodes, a little but like Cornet. Now, we are talking about that, the project.�