Christian Atsu

[CJMurray]

Tottenham target Christian Atsu turns down new Porto deal to fuel rumours of move


Sky Sports understands Porto winger Christian Atsu has turned down a new deal at Porto to alert Tottenham and a host of other clubs.
Porto are keen to get Atsu tied down to fresh terms in an effort to ward off potential suitors.
The Ghana international, who is set to feature for his country at the Africa Cup of Nations, has just 18 months to run on his current deal at Estadio do Dragao and Porto were hoping to increase his release clause to €30million (£24m) by agreeing a new contract.
If Atsu was to run down his contract Porto would only receive minimal compensation for his services, so they could be tempted to cash-in on him if they cannot agree a new deal with the African.
Tottenham have held a long-term interest in the 20-year-old with Atsu joining the first-team ranks at Porto during Andre Villas-Boas' reign.
Villas-Boas is thought to be keen to bolster his squad during the January transfer window and he could make a double swoop on Porto for Atsu and Joao Moutinho.
However, Spurs could face competition from the likes of Borussia Dortmund,

Valencia

and Lyon,

with the three clubs are admirers of the skilful wide-man.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/...s-down-new-Porto-deal-to-fuel-rumours-of-move

Would be a good signing. We desperately need some wing cover, could eventually turn into a Bale replacement ( ) as well.

 

[Hitch]

This is one that could have legs I think. I remember the links to him in the Summer but didn't really understand why it was being mooted as a serious possibility with Porto being the kind of club that they are. Now that I hear of his contract situation though it starts to make a lot more sense. He's highly rated and AVB will know him well.

With 18 months left on his contract now is the prime time for Porto to sell him. Might be complicated doing a deal in Jan though with his involvement in the ANC. You'd have to think that his agent will be advising him to hang on until Summer when more options may be on the table.

 

[dellybelly]

This is one that could have legs I think.

Well, I'd be upset if we went for a player who didn't have legs.

 

[michaelden]

I'd rather his team mate James Rodriguez but if this kid is as good , well okay then

 

[Snarfalicious]

I'd rather his team mate James Rodriguez but if this kid is as good , well okay then

Rodriguez is a whole different level in my mind. That kid looks like a budding star. CAM, Winger, 2nd Striker, that kid's immense.

Here's a video of Atsu (20 minutes of him):



Must admit, I didn't watch the whole thing. Apologies if they snuck some porn in that lengthy video.

 

[moomin]

I'd rather his team mate James Rodriguez but if this kid is as good , well okay then

Dont think we'd have a shot in HELL at getting Rodriguez. He's got a 35 million pound price tag apparently, and he's being chased quite heavily by united (according to the press). He was an AvB signing at Porto though....

 

[dontcallme]

Dont think we'd have a shot in HELL at getting Rodriguez. He's got a 35 million pound price tag apparently, and he's being chased quite heavily by united (according to the press). He was an AvB signing at Porto though....

Lets hope AVB buys us the next Rodriguez, Llorente etc rather than chasing £30m players that aren't going to sign for us.

 

[brasil_spur]

Lets hope AVB buys us the next Rodriguez, Llorente etc rather than chasing £30m players that aren't going to sign for us.

Agree, we really need to start getting this model going at the club, however i get the feeling that Levy is nervous when it comes to spending the cash on unheard of players. But AVB could realistically do what Wenger did for the Arse when he joined them, if Levy gives him enough reign.

 

[Riandor]

Agree, we really need to start getting this model going at the club, however i get the feeling that Levy is nervous when it comes to spending the cash on unheard of players. But AVB could realistically do what Wenger did for the Arse when he joined them, if Levy gives him enough reign.

By the sounds of it that is a big IF!

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

I like the look of this kid, seems like he can play left or right, has pace , skill, good delivery, could be the cover for the wings we're looking for.

 

[moomin]

loads of salt etc etc. part of the benny to PSG rumor:
@neileatson
Say Benni left to PSG...

@morning_angle76
@neileatson and Spurs bought Atsu? Fingers crossed?


@neileatson
@morning_angle76 with rose as back up #upgradeinsomeeyes



sounds like we're buying atsu to be a leftback???? wtf

 

[CJMurray]

Clearly neither of them know anything about Atsu...

 

[beats1]

Clearly neither of them know anything about Atsu...

If we are going for Atsu, I think what I fear about youth team will be more likely to happen as we are just buying a porto fringe player to develop instead of our own

 

[CJMurray]

If we are going for Atsu, I think what I fear about youth team will be more likely to happen as we are just buying a porto fringe player to develop instead of our own

I'd much rather give Townsend a shot then spend 6/7m on Atsu.

 

[Snarfalicious]

That literally makes no sense to bring Atsu in as a LB. I have a hard time believing that at all. It would essentially be like putting Lennon back into a fullback position.

If we want a young LB that badly, Massadio Haidara is ripe for the picking.

I think this might be a case where some inside information may have been misconstrued. That's the only logical thing I can think of this scenario.

 

[The Watcher]

I'd much rather give Townsend a shot then spend 6/7m on Atsu.

We could do with both, behind Lennon and Bale we're pretty thin on the wings.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

That literally makes no sense to bring Atsu in as a LB. I have a hard time believing that at all. It would essentially be like putting Lennon back into a fullback position.

If we want a young LB that badly, Massadio Haidara is ripe for the picking.

I think this might be a case where some inside information may have been misconstrued. That's the only logical thing I can think of this scenario.

Or maybe they just dont have any inside information at all.

 

[beats1]

We could do with both, behind Lennon and Bale we're pretty thin on the wings.

TBF we also have Falque, though prior to last season I wasnt exactly a fan and saw no sense in signing him we need develop(if he has the talent he can be late developer) and either promoting to the fringes or selling him for a profit, at the moment we are a shambles and doing neither

 

[Dharmabum]

Christian Atsu: Why Liverpool & Spurs Are Chasing Porto's Winger

by Vasco Mota Pereira
9 March 2013
Everton, Spurs and Liverpool have all been linked to the latest product of Porto's youth academy, but what is it about Ghanaian winger Christian Atsu that has Premier League scouts salivating?
The rumours of Christian Atsu’s potential transfer to Everton have been growing stronger, especially after the player’s impressive campaign in the Africa Cup of Nations 2013. But who exactly is he?
Christian Atsu is yet another product of FC Porto’s comprehensive scouting network. Signed at the tender age of 17, the Ghanaian winger was brought in under the radar with the goal of developing his full potential in the club’s youth ranks (eventually winning the award for the club’s best young player in the 2010/11 season).
Even though he was called once by then coach André Villas-Boas to a first-team match, he didn’t get to play until the 2011/12 season, when he was loaned out to Rio Ave (the club the maligned Manchester United flop Bebé currently plays for). At Rio Ave, Atsu was given the time and space he needed to grow and leave his mark, without the added pressure of playing under the spotlight he would come across had he remained at FC Porto.
During that season, Atsu amassed 6 goals and 4 assists in his 31 appearances (almost all of them in the starting line-up), playing enough not only to earn his spot on FC Porto’s definitive squad for the current season, but also to make a consistent impact on the team’s efforts, usually taking up Varela’s spot on the left wing, either starting or coming on as a substitute. In fact, his importance has been growing to such an extent that he has even played in all of FC Porto’s Champions League matches, coming on halfway through the second half to punish his opponents for their weary legs.
Atsu has also been called up to play for his country, where has buried 3 goals in his 13 presences. In the latest edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, he started every match but one, claiming his place on the left wing and even forcing Mubarak into the centre.
What makes Atsu so special?
Everton’s David Moyes is but one of several coaches and managers after the young Ghanaian prospect – including his former boss and Spurs manager André Villas-Boas, as well as Brendan Rogers at Liverpool, to name but a few. But why exactly does he stand out?
His bag of tricks would be enough to set him apart, but that’s not the whole story. Atsu is also explosive in 1v1 situations due to his sheer speed on and off the ball, which makes the full-backs’ job very hard (stick to him too tight to keep him from getting the ball and he will suddenly sprint past you; afford him space and he will use all of his tricks to nutmeg you). Atsu has another trait that sets him apart from most of his fellow African wingers: the ability to play a through-ball and consistently make good decisions in the final third, a feature somewhat unexpected in such a young player.
Even though he can play both on the wing (especially the left) and off a striker, Atsu is at his best on the flank, where he is given more time and space to wreak havoc with his fast, unpredictable sprints and feints.
About to enter the last year of his contract, it is little wonder that Atsu is on the tip of the tongue of most of Europe’s major outfits. If FC Porto don’t manage to tie the left winger to a long-term deal, they will risk seeing him leave for next to nothing, either in this Summer or the next.

 

[Snarfalicious]

Can we get a Photoshop master shop AVB with a Pokeball and throwing it at Joao Moutinho, Christian Atsu, James Rodriguez and Eliaquim Mangala. "Gotta catch 'em all!"