'Real great player': Declan Rice wowed by midfielder Liverpool and Spurs reportedly want

By Giuseppe Labellarte

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are just two of the Premier League clubs linked with Yves Bissouma in recent weeks.

The Sunday Mirror (13/2; page 74) recently claimed that the Reds and Spurs are monitoring the Brighton star.

As well as Liverpool and Tottenham, the likes of Newcastle and Aston Villa are also reportedly eyeing Bissouma.

The Reds have an impressive midfield as it is, but with Jordan Henderson and James Milner in their thirties, there’s scope to bring in a successor.

Meanwhile, Tottenham lost three midfielders in January – Dele Alli, Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso.

So Spurs also have scope to bolster their midfield ranks further come the end of the season.

And there are fewer better midfielders in the Premier League than Bissouma.

“He’s real consistent”

Indeed, West Ham star Declan Rice has named the Mali international in his list of top five Premier League midfielders.

“(Brighton) have always been a top side,” BT Sport quotes Rice as saying.

“Every time we’ve played against them, the way they pass the ball, Potter’s got them playing unbelievable football.

“And to be fair, Bissouma – there’s a lot of talk about him as well, he’s a real great player.

“When you play against him you see what he’s like.

” You see a holding midfielder but he wins the ball, he’s strong in the tackle, can bring the ball forward, finds passes, got a little flairy side to him.

“And obviously he’s had a solid season again this year, and he did last season as well, he’s real consistent.”

Bissouma joined the south coast outfit in the summer of 2018 from Lille for a reported £15.2million.

He has made 114 competitive appearances to date for the Seagulls, and has also won 18 Mali caps.

Bissouma’s contract only runs until 2023 – could Liverpool, Tottenham or another side swoop for him in sunner?