The deadline day of the summer transfer window this year has lived up to its expectations with more than 10 deals completed by clubs from around the country on one single day. There were some big money signings during the day but one story caught the eye and ran till the last hour of the day. Newcastle United want-away Moussa Sissoko joined Tottenham Hotspur on a 5-year deal worth £30m. This new came just minutes after Merseyside outfit Everton reportedly in talks over a deal with the player.
After all the dust of the transfer window settled down, Sissoko’s move to the Spurs makes more sense than it did in the frenzy. For starters, the club sold the likes of Nacer Chadli and Ryan Mason this summer and was in need for a cover for their first team stars going into the season. Sissoko will provide more than just a cover and will start fighting for a place in the starting XI in no time. The 27-year old French star was one of the standout performances at the EURO16 recently in France where he helped the hosts to a place in the final. He also had a decent season for the Magpies who were relegated and got himself back into the Premier League in no time.
A midfielder by trait, Sissoko is comfortable playing from the middle of the field or also on the flanks and is one of the most intelligent and complete players in the Premier League. The Spurs showed a noticeable lack of pace in the game against Liverpool where they almost suffered a loss and Sissoko is the man that will address the issue in the coming weeks. He is a player who had a direct approach to the game as he relies on taking the game to the opposition even under pressure situations.
An exceptional dribbler and an even better passer, Sissoko is a perfect fit for the Spurs this season. He is relatively young and full of energy, ticking two of the many boxes that Pochettino refers to before signing a player. He is also a strong lad who is adept at keeping the ball but his best performances come on the counter where he can use his pace to frighten the defenders and set his team-mates for a chance on goal. He is also a willing runner on the flanks and is decent at putting in crosses for the strikers to attack which will add another dimension to Pochettino’s game this season.
The 27-year old showed his class at times at the St James and playing alongside better players will only make him a better footballer. The likes of Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Erik Lamela have all shown some quality in the 3 games of the new season while the Spurs still have Moussa Dembele sidelined, waiting to return to full fitness. Adding Sissoko to the mix only makes them look stronger.
The French international may be deployed on the wing or through the middle as his work rate will allow Pochettino to build around him in the midfield. He will surely create chances and take some once in a while and at his price in an inflated market, he is surely a worthwhile expenditure. However, making such a controversial move will have its own pitfalls and if he fails in his first few games, the pressure will start mounting. So he will hope that he has a decent start to his career at the White Hart Lane. What do you think Sissoko will add to the Spurs this summer?
