Tottenham owner Daniel Levy and sporting director Fabio Paratici have been lauded for securing the signing of long-term Arsenal target Yves Bissouma, with the Malian midfielder's transfer announcement expected shortly.
The 25-year-old, who is an Arsenal fan, is the latest player to be snapped up by the Lilywhites, who have started this summer transfer window on fire. Their £25million capture of a player that the Seagulls quoted a fee of around £50m for last summer will join the north Londoners alongside the already signed Ivan Perisic and Fraser Forster.
Middlesbrough's Djed Spence could also soon be on his way to the capital as he appears to have given the green light to Tottenham with negotiations expected to speed up in the forthcoming days amid a £20million price demand rumour on the Teesside clubs' behalf.
Bissouma is set to be the next player through the door at Tottenham in a summer transfer window which is shaping up to be an intriguing one. Levy and Paratici really are backing Antonio Conte, who secured Champions League football for the club next season. The Brighton midfielder reportedly travelled to the England on Wednesday to undergo his medical at Hotspur Way and his announcement could happen anytime soon, with his personal trainer already confirming his client's move on Instagram.
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"Bissouma was set to fly to the UK on Wednesday and after staying overnight in The Lodge, we're expecting the medical at Hotspur Way on Thursday and if all the personal terms are tied up quickly, which seems to be the case, then we should see the deal announced by the end of the week," Tottenham's Chief correspondent for football.london Alasdair Gold updated in his latest Q&A.
"This is Spurs though so you can never entirely rule out another couple of random days chucked on the end while they going through all of their processes, but this shouldn't need to drag out at this point."
Regardless of when this deal is announced, former Tottenham assistant manager Chris Hughton has labelled Brighton's soon-to-be Brighton No. 8 as a 'fantastic' player- music to the ears of all Spurs fans but especially Conte, who is likely to deploy the soon-to-be new signing alongside either Rodrigo Bentancur or Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in that midfield axis.
“He’s very talented on the ball, happy to receive it in tight areas, with a lovely knack for driving past players. Really good business for Spurs," Hughton told The Athletic's Tottenham correspondent Charlie Eccleshare. On top of this, former Spurs full-back Stephen Kelly has gone on to further laud Levy and Paratici for all the business that has been conducted so far this summer in a swift manner.
"It’s been excellent and it’s always been a worry with Spurs when you get someone like Conte, you want to give him the backing and show him that you’re really invested to bring the team forward," he told Sky Sports News.
"Kulusevski’s goals and assists have been off the charts since he signed, probably one of the best January signings for a while for a club and Bentancur ticking over, moving us up the pitch so I think Tottenham have recruited well since Conte come in. You look now, they’re bringing in experience, with the young players he’s someone who can lean on, Bissouma who is Premier League proven, gives that energy and ability in the middle of the park and just strengthens our numbers.
"So far, it’s been really good. If he can add to that before pre-season and have a good group of players makes it all the better, I think Tottenham have gone about their business well."
Tottenham start the 2022/23 campaign with fixtures against Southampton, Chelsea and Wolves in their first three matches and Kelly reckons the momentum gained under the Italian at the end of last season coupled with the good to transfer window should be enough to boost the Lilywhites for what could be a flying start to the new season.
He added: " If you finish strongly, the way Tottenham did, the new signings, the manager finally implementing his style and the team being cohesive, very well together, they have to take it into next season. Adding new players and strengthening creates competition in the squad, there’s an intent to bring players in to the squad to bolster and improve them. From Tottenham’s point of view, they have to kick off now with the manager. He demands almost perfection, so I think they’ll hopefully start the season flying."
Tottenham fans- Will Yves Bissouma be the signing of the summer regardless of what happens between now to the end of the transfer window?
