Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a move for Brighton ace Yves Bissouma but will Arsenal play spoilsport?
According to Turkish journalist Ekrem Konur on Twitter, Tottenham Hotspur look set to end the summer transfer window on a high by plotting a move for Brighton star Yves Bissouma.
The 24-year-old has been at the Amex Stadium for three years now and has steadily evolved into one of Graham Potter’s top players. He now appears set to take the next step in his career and continue developing at a big club.
The Malian is not short of options either, given the teams in the fray for his signature. Apart from Spurs, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal are all keen on securing a deal for the midfielder.
Brighton, for their part, does not appear averse to doing business. They will, however, seek €35m for the player. With just a little more than a day left before the window closes, it remains to be seen if Spurs will fork out the money needed to get their man.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are sitting pretty at the top of the English Premier League after winning their first three games of the season. Spurs have already made several shrewd moves this summer by bringing in Pierluigi Gollini, Cristian Romero, Pape Matar Sarr and Bryan Gil.
However, Bissouma could be the coup de grace given the precarious state of their midfield unit. Moussa Sissoko is no more at the club joining Watford a few days ago while Tanguy Ndombele’s future remains unclear. New signing Sarr has been sent back to Metz as well, so acquiring a midfielder of the highest order is now a priority.
Bissouma is one of the best defensive midfielders in the league and could form a young, dynamic partnership with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at the heart of the Tottenham midfield. This double-pivot could pave the way for a fluid Spurs frontline to wreak further havoc.
Other suitors like Manchester United and Liverpool could also do with the addition of Bissouma, though Tottenham’s arch-rivals Arsenal probably need him the most. The Gunners are currently at the opposite end of the spectrum to Spurs, dawdling at the bottom of the Premier League table.
While poor performances have often been the norm at the Emirates of late, alarm bells must be ringing as to just how easily the Gunners midfield has been bypassed in recent games.
Bissouma’s intelligence and positioning will shape the Gunners midfield, freeing Emile Rowe Smith and Martin Odegaard to push forward with more purpose. The Malian could form a strong partnership with Thomas Partey, laying the foundation for Mikel Arteta to build further.
As things stand, United appear to be done with their summer business, while Liverpool looks unlikely to add to Ibrahima Konate. This could very well see both the North London giants go up against each other for the Brighton midfield enforcer in these final stages of the transfer window.