Benoi Assou-Ekotto linked with France return

Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto is being mentioned as a possible target for Saint Etienne, L’Equipe can reveal.

Les Verts are in the market for a left-sided defender after Franck Tabanou joined Swansea, and the Cameroon full-back is one of the players they are looking at.

Assou-Ekotto has been a free agent since he was released from his contract at White Hart Lane, and he may be interested in returning to French Ligue 1.

The 31-year-old had been regarded one of Premier League’s top left-backs for several years, but his career has taken a turn for the worse of late.

Since joining the club from Lens in 2006, Assou-Ekotto managed 155 Premier League outings for Spurs, while also enjoying a season-long loan at QPR during the 2013/2014 season.

His suitors Saint Etienne appear to have given up on signing QPR’s Armand Traore, while another target Lionel Carole is nearing a switch to Turkish Super Lig.