Oh my, this isn’t fun at all. Tottenham Hotspur’s Senegalese midfielder Pape Matar Sarr has been one of those players who has seemed likely to be sold or move on from the club this summer as it attempts to overhaul the squad. We’ve written already about how he’s been linked with a number of clubs this summer, including Aston Villa earlier in the window and more recently Galatasaray.
But according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Pape was recently informed that he’s on the transfer list for this summer,
and he’s… not taking it well.
Sigh. I like Pape a lot — he’s a lovely, interesting guy and one I’ve always appreciated, but I think it’s also fair to say that he hasn’t developed the way Spurs have wanted him to since we purchased him from Metz in France back in 2021. Sarr’s a willing presser and has a hell of a motor, and he’s given us some super fun moments over his Tottenham career, but he’s yet to really nail down a starting role in midfield, and with the additions of Conor Gallagher, Sandro Tonali, and Mateus Fernandes in the past year it doesn’t look like he’s going to get one this season either. He’s depth at this point, and for the sake of his career it’s probably best if he leaves.
I have a feeling Sarr will have some kind of market — he’d do well at Galatasaray but I can also see him fitting into a decent to good Ligue 1 side, or even a mid-table Premier League club should any actually pony up the dough. Villa appears to have backed off their initial interest, but maybe someone will come in for him before the end of the month.
I do hate that he’s disappointed, but it’s understandable — he does really seem to love the club. I just want him to be somewhere that makes him happy.
