Meet the Peruvian midfielder on the Tottenham transfer radar
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Normally when you hear of things coming from Peru to London, you think of Paddington Bear, but it is a new transfer target rather than a marmalade muncher greeting Tottenham.
Peruvian sports publication Libero is reporting that one of their nation’s star men is being eyed up by Spurs in a deal allegedly worth over £15m.
Christian Cueva is a 24-year-old winger who is currently plying his trade in Mexico for Toluca.
The Peru international has represented his nation 12 times, scoring his first goal against Brazil in the 2015 Copa America.
Heading to White Hart Lane would make him only the fifth Peruvian to ever play in the Premier League.
Claudio Pizarro, Ysrael Zuniga and Diego Penny, who played for Chelsea, Coventry and Burnley respectively, had indifferent stays in the English top-flight.
However, the fourth of Cueva’s compatriots should give him encouragement that he can make an impact on these shores.
Nolberto Solano came to Britain having never played in Europe before when he signed for Newcastle in 1998.
The same is effectively true of Tottenham’s latest target, who spent some time on loan at Rayo Vallecano but only played 27 La Liga minutes.
The 41-year-old went on to have a fantastic career at St James’ Park, spending six years there in his first spell, and has been adopted by the supporters as an ‘honorary Geordie’.
Indeed, his affinity with the north east extended so far that the accomplished trumpeter named his Salsa band The Geordie Latinos.
Music aside, Solano ended up back at Newcastle following a stint at Aston Villa before also representing West Ham, Leicester City, Hull City and Hartlepool United in England.
Altogether, the Peruvian legend made 302 Premier League appearances and leaves a strong legacy for Cueva to follow.
However, the 24-year-old will be hoping that going to Tottenham will bring him more success than his compatriot, with Solano’s only piece of silverware in England coming in the form of the Intertoto Cup in 2006.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
