Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Monaco striker Keita Balde "has always been a player of interest" for the club.

Spurs were linked with the former Barcelona youth player last summer while he was still at Lazio, but he instead opted to join Monaco, where he signed a five-year contract.

However, Balde has since returned to Serie A on loan with Inter Milan and was a second-half substitute in Inter's 2-1 Champions League win over Spurs on Tuesday night, prompting Pochettino to reveal his rekindled interest in the 23-year-old.

"Yes it is true. I have been following him since he was growing up at Barcelona while I was at Espanyol," Pochettino is quoted as saying by Calciomercato.

"He has always been a player of interest for us, but then he chose Monaco. He remains an excellent attacker."

Balde's deal with Inter Milan includes an option to buy at the end of the season-long loan.