Football
Exclusive: Spurs Make Initial Approach for RB Leipzig and France Defender Castello Lukeba
Tottenham Hotspur have made initial enquiries about signing RB Leipzig and France centre-back Castello Lukeba. The 22-year-old is keen to raise his profile and potentially move to the Premier League after three successful seasons in Germany. Spurs hope to tempt him with a £65million offer and bolster their defense.
FC Augsburg v RB Leipzig - Bundesliga by Marcel Engelbrecht - firo sportphoto | Getty Images
Tottenham have made initial enquiries about signing France international and RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The highly-rated 22-year-old centre-back is under contract until 2029 with the German Bundesliga outfit.
But Spurs boss Thomas Frank is hopeful he can tempt Lukeba to come and play in the Premier League after three years in Germany.
Lukeba is currently in his third season at Leipzig having been a mainstay of their side for the past two seasons.
He is approaching 100 games for the club, but we have learnt the player is keen to raise his profile as he looks to break back into the national side.
And a move to North London could be on the cards if Spurs can match Leipzig’s £65million valuation of the player.
Lukeba has won many admirers for some strong performances for Leipzig this season, with the club second in the Bundesliga table and hoping to challenge Bayern Munich for the title this season.
Spurs have also reportedly made enquiries for Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke, who could represent a cheaper alternative, with the Seagulls valuing the defender at around £45million.
MAXIMISE VALUE
It is believed Leipzig tied Lukeba down to a new deal last term to maximise their hand if a rival club made an offer for him in the next couple of seasons.
Spanish giants Real Madrid have previously been linked with a move for the player, any potential deal did not materialise in the summer transfer window.
As a rare left-footed centre-back, Lukeba has won many admirers for his performances, even though he hasn’t played for France in nearly two years.
That was when he was at former club Lyon, with whom he played three years.
An 2024 Olympic silver medallist with his country, the defender has been reported to be on Liverpool and Manchester United’s radar, but Spurs hope to have the pulling power to attract Lukeba to London and to buy into Frank’s vision to rebuild the club.
Lukeba has played 166 games so far during his career is believed to be interested in testing himself in the Premier League after his experiences in France and Germany respectively.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.