Lyon midfielder Pape Cheikh has revealed that he came close to joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2017 from former club Celta Vigo, before deciding on a move to Ligue 1.
The Senegal-born Spanish Under-21 international moved to Lyon in a £12m deal during the summer transfer window in 2017, despite interest from Tottenham.
Cheikh told Spanish news outlet AS: “It was a hard decision. Tottenham also wanted me and the truth that their name sounded louder… but the idea of Lyon attracted me. I knew it was a club that works with young people, you work with them, they help you grow.