Tottenham Transfer News: Michail Antonio Reveals Snub, Moussa Dembele Rumours

West Ham United star Michail Antonio has revealed his mother stopped him from joining Tottenham Hotspur, while reported summer transfer target Moussa Dembele is being heavily scouted after a string of great showings for Celtic.

Speaking to Goal, Antonio revealed he almost joined Spurs academy as a youngster, but his mother said he couldn't as she feared the time he'd spend travelling to north London would interfere with his school work.

The 26-year-old said the decision left him in tears, but in hindsight, it only helped his development:

"

When my mum didn’t let me join Tottenham, it kind of gave me a confidence that I had the ability to do it but then again, it kind of upset me massively.

I was in tears, because it was an opportunity to play for a professional team and I didn’t get to do it, but I’m here now so I can’t complain.

In hindsight it’s definitely made me better as a player. It’s made me more hungry, it’s made me want to go out… it’s made me eager and I’m never satisfied.

"

Antonio, who was born in south-west London, instead remained with Tooting & Mitcham United before beginning a slow climb up the English football ladder. He joined West Ham from Nottingham Forest in 2015.

Per WhoScored.com, the winger bagged eight goals for the Hammers in his first Premier League campaign, and he's already found the net five times in six outings this year.

He's been a huge force in the air in 2016, per ESPN FC:

His versatility makes him a wonderful asset, and there's little doubt Spurs would love to have him in their team right now. His tremendous scoring rate would be a welcome addition for a side that will face Premier League leaders Manchester City without the injured Harry Kane on Sunday.

Tottenham pride themselves on their academy, and the current senior squad features a host of young talent that was at least partially educated by Spurs. The likes of Kane and Josh Onomah have the look of future superstars, and the development squad features many more top talents like Harry Winks and Cameron Carter-Vickers.

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Given Spurs' great reputation, it's easy to see why Antonio was so upset he didn't get to join them. But his recent success with West Ham would suggest his mother made the right decision, even if the Hammers' current form is dreadful, to say the least.

Elsewhere, the Sun's Sam Morgan reported Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid all watched Dembele and Celtic take on Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, a match in which the 20-year-old forward scored twice.

Per the report, Spurs made a play for the talented youngster during the summer, but he ended up choosing Celtic, where his chances of starting so soon in his career were greater. Judging from his early success in Scotland, that proved to be the right decision.

Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

Per Goal's Robin Bairner, the clubs scouting him on Wednesday must have liked what they saw:

The Frenchman had an excellent season for Fulham in the 2015-16 campaign, and he was widely expected to stay in England and move to a top Premier League club where he could continue his development.

Celtic snapped him up instead, and the youngster has already richly rewarded them with goals, per WhoScored.com:

He's unlikely to leave Celtic anytime soon, as he has only just joined the club, but if he continues scoring at such an impressive rate, the elite clubs of European football might be tempted to make the kind of offer a club like Celtic simply can't refuse.

That in turn is bad news for Spurs' chances of signing Dembele, whose next transfer seems more likely to be to a giant club like Bayern or Real.