Arsenal Scouts now In Italy as they were sent by Arteta to watch £50m Africa Star as perfect replacement for Thomas Partey who has already declared that He wants to join Saudi Club by January
Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have both reportedly set their sights on Ivory Coast international Karim Konate.
According to 90Min, Spurs and the Gunners sent scouts to watch the Red Bull Salzburg forward in action at the weekend.
Konate scored both goals in the Austrian Bundesliga win over Tirol as Salzburg moved two points clear at the top of the table.
As well as Tottenham and Arsenal, the likes of Crystal Palace and West Ham are apparently also monitoring the 19-year-old.
Konate has come a long way following his £3million move to Salzburg from Ivorian club ASEC Mimosas in the summer of 2022.
The teenager enjoyed a fruitful loan stint at FC Liefering in the first half of the season, registering 15 goals and three assists from 18 outings.
Konate returned to Salzburg and has become prolific for them too, with 13 goals and seven assists to his name overall.
This season alone, Konate has already registered 10 goals and six assists in all competitions for his club.
‘The complete package’
Scouting outlet Breaking the Lines wrote in January 2023: ‘Karim Konate is arguably the most exciting talent to come out of the Ivory Coast in the past couple of years.
‘Providing the physicality of Sebastian Haller, the dribbling of Jeremie Boga, and the finishing of Wilfried Zaha, Konate is the complete package.
‘There’s a reason he’s drawn comparisons to Erling Haaland, who also played for Salzburg, and there’s a reason why he’s leading both FC Liefering and the Salzburg youth team in goals scored; he’s really good.’
Konate looks like a top talent and it’s no surprise that the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal are keeping tabs.
And considering Salzburg’s business model involves selling players at a profit, there’s a good chance Spurs and the Gunners could sign him soon. However, there will no doubt be strong competition.
