Moussa Sissoko’s £30 million move from Newcastle United to Tottenham Hotspur was one of the most expensive and dramatic of transfer deadline day, but had one of the Frenchman’s international teammates got his way, the 27-year-old’s summer could have taken a very different turn.
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud, a friend of Sissoko’s from the national team, told him to “give Arsenal priority” during the summer transfer window.
Sissoko had been linked with a move to Arsenal in the summer, and he had also been quoted in the past referring to the club as “beautiful.” Naturally, this leads to the conclusion that Arsenal never didn’t come in with a bid for the Frenchman, and when given the choice between Spurs and Everton, Tottenham became his first choice.
Still, this could be a potential sticking point between player and fans over the course of the season. Sissoko has already raised eyebrows with the gulf in the quality of performances between his dismal Newcastle days and rampant summer with the French national team. There are concerns that Sissoko is not the sort of player who gives his all 100% of the time, which is worrying for Spurs.
If Sissoko isn’t wholly committed and performing with excellence this season, his previous comments about Spurs’ bitter rivals, and the rumours that they were his first choice, could come back to bite him hard.
Another deadline day signing, Spanish goalkeeper Pau Lopez, has been welcomed to the squad by Hugo Lloris, who is keen to help the young Spaniard settle at White Hart Lane.
Lopez arrived on loan from Espanyol, but the 21-year-old is expected to join the club on a permanent deal for £6 million next summer, making him a potential long term replacement for Lloris and Michel Vorm.
Lloris spoke of Lopez’s quality, referring to last season in La Liga with Espanyol, where he was the number one ‘keeper and made 36 league appearances, and that he intends to help the young Spaniard settle on and off the pitch.
It will be important for Spurs’ future that their three goalkeepers are all working in harmony with one another. Lloris is one of the best all round goalkeepers in the Premier League and Lopez is clearly a young goalkeeper who oozes talent. It will be vital for the continuity of strong Tottenham goalkeeping that the Spaniard has the chance to learn from the best before picking up the mantle as number one in a few years time.
Finally, many Spurs players have been away from the club this week on international duty, and the standout player was Christian Eriksen, who scored the winning goal for Denmark in a World Cup qualifier against Armenia.
It will be exceptionally pleasing for Mauricio Pochettino to see Eriksen among the goals on international duty, after contract talks have seemingly distracted the Dane, who has made a very poor start to the season on the pitch.
Still, a goal for Denmark represents a slight return to form, which will be much needed for Spurs. Eriksen’s passing and crossing are vital for the way Tottenham hurt teams, and they have looked a little blunt without the 24-year-old on top form.
Eric Dier, Danny Rose and Kyle Walker all started in England’s 1-0 win in Slovakia last night, but the real star was Dele Alli, who came off the bench, bringing creativity that helped inspire the Three Lions to help escape from what was a fairly dismal stalemate.
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