Monaco star addresses Tottenham transfer rumours ahead of Champions League clash, admitting he feels flattered by the links.

Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie have been ruled out of Tottenham Hotspur’s crucial Champions League clash against Monaco this evening, as the Lilywhites aim to bounce back from their bruising 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday. Spurs face a stern challenge, with the Ligue 1 side proving on matchday two that they are no pushovers after holding Manchester City to a draw.

According to Opta’s Supercomputer, Tottenham head into the encounter as slight favourites, boasting a 41.2 per cent chance of victory compared to Monaco’s 33.8 per cent.

One player who could pose a serious threat to Spurs is Maghnes Akliouche, Monaco’s rising star who has enjoyed a rapid ascent and recently earned a call-up to the French national team. The 23-year-old was strongly linked with a move to Tottenham during the summer transfer window, and ahead of the clash, he addressed the speculation surrounding his future.

Speaking to reporters via George Sessions, Akliouche said: “It was very flattering to have these kinds of stories and Tottenham links, but I am a Monaco player. I am playing against Tottenham tomorrow, so I will give my best. The important thing for us is to win. I am not focused at all on other links and pressure.”

Looking ahead to the encounter, Akliouche expressed his determination to help Monaco secure their first Champions League win of the campaign, emphasizing the importance of home advantage.

He told Monaco’s official website: “Of course, we want to win. What’s more, the match against Tottenham will be at home; we really enjoy playing here with our fans. It’s going to be an important match, and we have the ability to do something, so we’ll have to give it our all to get the win.”

The winger also spoke about the prospect of reuniting with Tottenham’s Wilson Odobert, a player he knows well from their time together with the French Under-21s.

Akliouche added: “He’s a very technical and fast winger who can bring a lot to Tottenham. I played with him with the U21s, and I’ll be happy to see him tomorrow.”