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Tottenham Hotspur are tracking Torino midfielder Soualiho Meite, per Calciomercato.

What’s the word?

Meite, an ex-France youth international who has been capped at Under-16, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-20 level, mainly plays in defensive midfield in Serie A.

Now 25, the star moved to Torino from Monaco in 2018 and has already endured something of a nomadic career, also playing for Auxerre and Lille as well as Zulte Waregem and Bordeaux on loan.

However, Spurs are said to be interested as they look to make their first signing since January 2018 this summer.

The report claims that Meite, valued at £11.7million by Transfermarkt, could leave if Torino fail to qualify for the Europa League this season; they are currently seventh, two points behind current qualifiers Roma with two games of the season remaining.

A major punt

This seems like a punt from Spurs.

Meite hasn’t settled at a club yet and he has played just 36 times in total for Torino, scoring twice and laying on three assists.

If the club are to replace Mousa Dembele, who left in January, one feels that they need the finished article with some genuine experience of playing in the top-flight.

Meite, at this stage, does not offer that. He doesn't have the grace in possession, the elegance in the tackle or the pure footballing knowledge to offer the same game-changing qualities as the Belgian.

At his best, Dembele was perhaps the finest midfielder in the Premier League, capable of rampaging through the opposition press and winning the ball back before pulling off a Cruyff turn to get out of trouble.

We have seen no evidence that Meite can do either of those things and it is remarkably unlikely that he would be able to step into Dembele's shoes.

He could well turn out to be a star, of course, and the club’s scouting department cannot be underestimated.

But if Mauricio Pochettino’s men are to move to the next level, they need to be aiming higher.