NEW BOY Yves Bissouma has never been short of self-confidence and now he gets the chance to back up the talk on the biggest stage.
Last season the Mali international, 25, picked himself when he was asked to name the best midfielder in the Premier League.
Bissouma, who was confirmed as Spurs’ third summer signing in a deal which could reach £30million from Brighton, has long been considered one of the best players outside of the big six.
Another stellar season for the Seagulls under Graham Potter convinced many he was destined for the Champions League – and now the former Lille man has his shot at the big time at the heart of Antonio Conte’s midfield.
And former Brighton boss Chris Hughton, the man who brought Bissouma to the Premier League in 2018, reckons the north Londoners have bagged themselves somewhat of a bargain.
Hughton told SunSport :”What Spurs have paid – in this day and age to get a midfielder who is a good age going to a top club – it seems very good business to me.
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“There is no doubt he is the type of player they are looking for.
“When you consider that they paid £63m for [Tanguy] Ndombele, it is good business – there are players going for more than that.”
Bissouma arrived on the South Coast for £15m from Lille four years ago – and coaches at Brighton knew from the off that they had a talented player on their hands.
Asked if they could see his potential from day one, Hughton said: “Yes. As regards to ability, he has wonderful ability.
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“He is a natural player who can take the ball in tight areas and also go past players. I had absolutely no doubt that he would continue to develop but you never know how far.”
There were other areas of being a professional footballer that Bissouma had to develop early on to become the complete package – including timekeeping having arrived late to training on a few occasions.
After a year developing under Hughton at The Amex, Bissouma proved under Potter that he could hack it in the Premier League – and now he has the opportunity to prove his worth at another level in north London.
Hughton said: “How good he can be, nobody knows. He has earned the right to be where he is.
“Do I think he’ll be a success? Yes. It is an area of the pitch they have wanted to bring in.
“There is a difference in the pressure of playing – all due respect to them – between playing for Brighton and a team in the Champions League.
“He can cope with it and good luck to him and I hope it works well.
“You always want lads to make progress. The timing is wonderful timing for him and his career.
“It is a great club back in the Champions League with a great manager.”
He has got enough flexibility in his game to adapt to whatever the manager at Tottenham wants.
Chris Hughton on Yves Bissouma
Conte has been keen to bring in a player who can dictate tempo and shape the game from midfield and, in Bissouma, they have a player who is comfortable and confident on the ball in a number of roles.
Hughton said: “He is the one in midfield that they want to get the ball to because they know it will stick.
“He has got enough flexibility in his game to adapt to whatever the manager at Tottenham wants.
“That is testament to how he has been used over these last three seasons.
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“He can play that deeper role, he is very comfortable in receiving possession of the football.
“But he can also play higher because he is a very good technical player. One area to improve is that he can add goals to his game but he can do that.”
If Bissouma can add those goals to his game, his claim of being the best in the League may just become fact.
