AJ Auxerre chairman Guy Cotret has revealed it would take a ‘huge’ offer to land highly-rated striker Paul-Georges Ntep de Madiba in the January transfer window, Sky Sports understands.
Ntep, 21, is the subject of reported interest from a number of European clubs, including English Premier League newcomers Crystal Palace and Hull City.
Hull, currently in 10th-place in the Premier League table, were linked with a £1.5 move for Ntep during the summer transfer window, but nothing materialised.
After the rumoured deal for Ntep fell through, the Tigers opted to bolster their strikeforce with the additions of Danny Graham (on loan from Sunderland) and Yannick Sagbo (Evian Thonon Gaillard).
The new arrivals have combined for just one goal in 16 appearances in all competitions for Hull this term, which may prompt manager Steve Bruce to revive his interest in Ntep.
The France Under-21 international, who joined Auxerre from CS Brétigny Foot in 2009, has bagged 12 goals in 36 Ligue 2 appearances for AJA over the past two seasons.
“His possible departure will depend on the offer, which should be huge, but there is nothing concrete so far, but it will also depend on our situation in January,” Cotret told L’Equipe.
“We won’t let him leave if we are in competition to get promotion to Le Championnat.”
Toronto F.C. fancy Defoe
Toronto F.C. manager Ryan Nelsen has talked up the potential signing of Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe amid reports linking the England international with a move to Major League Soccer.
Nelsen, a former team-mate of Defoe at Tottenham, is keen to bolster the Reds squad ahead of next season, having finished in 9th-place (6-11-17) in the Eastern Conference table in 2013.
Defoe, who has scored eight goals in 12 competitive appearances — albeit none in seven Premier League games — for Spurs in 2013/14, is reportedly attracting interest from a host of MLS clubs, and understandably so.
When asked about the possibility of signing Defoe, Nelsen told TSN Canada: “That’s not a serious question, is it?
“Jermain Defoe in this league? Look what [Marco] Di Vaio has done! My goodness – incredible player.
“One of the most natural goalscorers I have ever come across. Always out training, always trying to score, a great guy.
“To get a guy like Defoe for the MLS, I cannot think of many that are more suited. I think if you ask most Premier League teams, they would take Defoe.”
Defoe is 10/11 to score at anytime in Wednesday’s Capital One Cup clash against Hull City.
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