In an official statement, Watford have confirmed the capture of Moussa Sissoko. The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder joins on a two-year contract, putting an end to a five-year spell in north London. His departure was sanctioned shortly after Spurs themselves had announced the arrival of Metz’s young midfield sensation Pape Sarr.
A Wise Move By Tottenham?
Tottenham Hotspur‘s decision to offload Moussa Sissoko was a logical one from the club’s perspective. The Frenchman was one of the club’s experienced outfield players, having featured in 259 Premier League matches since arriving in England in 2013.
However, he had no future prospects at Spurs, especially after the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo. It is apparent that the Portuguese tactician prefers players with technical quality in midfield.
Therefore, it is essential for the double-pivot to be able to control possession and dictate play when required. Sissoko was an excellent fighter and a proven ball-winner, but his lack of technical ability or quality in possession would have made him a liability at Tottenham.
The further addition of Pape Sarr meant that the former Newcastle United star would have fallen behind Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp, Giovani Lo Celso and Sarr himself in the pecking order. A move away from north London, therefore, was certainly a beneficial one for Tottenham as a club.
Can He Revive Himself At Watford?
Moussa Sissoko’s move to Watford was not surprising as the newly-promoted side need an experienced star who can offer the leadership and aggression in the middle of the park.
The Hornets have an abundance of that in the form of Nathaniel Chalobah, Juraj Kucka and Tom Cleverly. But none of them has any real experience of performing consistently in the Premier League.
Sissoko, therefore, can be considered as an ideal alternative for first-team stars like Chalobah or Cleverly. And in many ways, he could be a replacement for Abdoulaye Doucoure.
There is no doubt of the fact that Sissoko will have to fight to earn his place in the Watford first-team. But the newly-promoted outfit can certainly provide the experienced Frenchman with an opportunity to relaunch his career, thus making this move a beneficial one for all parties involved.
