Lazio forward rejects Tottenham move

Lazio forward Keita Balde Diao has snubbed the chance to link up with Tottenham Hotspur during this summer's transfer window.

The north London club had agreed a £26m deal with Lazio for the Senegal international, only for the player to snub their advances, Italian outlet Il Messaggero claims

Diao had amassed 16 goals and three assists in a top season for Lazio last term, and this has taken his overall career stats to 37 goals and 27 assists in 127 outings.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino had been eager to pursue the 22-year-old in order to strengthen his wider positions for the new campaign, but it appears that he may have to look elsewhere with the player desperate for a move to Juventus.

Leicester City's Demarai Gray is the other option on the Spurs' shortlist, but the club will have to cough up at least £20m in order to convince the Foxes into a sale.

Tottenham have not made much progress in Europe in recent seasons, and Pochettino is keen to rectify this prior to the start of the new campaign.