Tottenham Hotspur signed Yves Bissouma from Brighton and Hove Albion during the summer transfer window.
The 26-year-old Mali international has established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the league and to sign him for a fee of around £25 million was seen as a major bargain.
However, the transfer has not gone according to plan so far.
The former Brighton star has failed to hold down a regular starting berth at the London club and he has started just twice in the Premier League so far. Furthermore, the Mali international is yet to start a single game in the UEFA Champions League for Tottenham.
It is evident that the player has not managed to convince manager Antonio Conte of his quality yet.
In an exclusive chat with Caughtoffside, reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has now confirmed that the player is still adapting to Conte’s ideas, but he is working hard in training.
Romano further claims that the Tottenham staff are happy with his progress on the training pitch.
“Bissouma was probably not 100% ready for Conte’s ideas,” Romano explained.
“But I’m told he’s working hard to improve and the staff is happy with his progress.”
It will be interesting to see if the 26-year-old can force his way into Conte’s first team plans over the next few weeks.
There is no doubt that Bissouma is a quality player and he could be an asset for Tottenham in the long run.
Destiny was requested by Conte as has proved one of the best LWB in Italy this season.
It would increasingly appear that few of the so-called “amazing transfer window” intakes were Conte’s choice. Apart from Perisic none are nailed-on improvements to the first-team squad hence the reason why Conte has been playing mainly with the same lineup he finished last season with. Spence and Destiny were clearly the work of Levy and his usual pattern of buying prospects that he hopes he will be able to sell on in the future for a tidy profit. This again says that nothing has changed with Conte’s arrival. Levy and ENIC are playing the supporters with world-class managers and a sub-class squad as that in their bean counting mantra is a cheaper alternative than investing in a world-class squad. Quite frankly it is embarrassing that we have this world-class stadium and we have the likes of Royale, Dier, Davies, Sanchez, and Sessegnon unable to pass a football with any accuracy over ten yards. Our marquee signing was Richarlison who would not have gotten near a Spurs side in the past. Let’s reflect on how wonderful our summer transfer window was by looking at how Arsenal have progressed from where we hammered them at the end of last season and comparing the football they are playing and the football we are playing. We have fallen way behind them thanks once again to the lack of any ambition from ENIC in winning anything football-related other than qualification for CL football. Yet they charge supporters ticket prices that are as high if not higher than the elite clubs who continuously win trophies and titles. We are all being played by Levy and ENIC and Conte is the smokescreen. Nothing will change at this club until these parasitical owners leave and we have new owners that have their only metric as success on the football pitch.
Further proof, if needed it was t just Spence who wasn’t a Conte pick. It would appear neither was Bissouma.
We’ve been fed even more smoke and mirrors by the illustrious Daniel
I think Conte is naturally cautious and unsure about Bissoumas discipline. I think trust will build over time as Yves desire to impress and pick up yellows balance out.
The boy Yves has switched from a first choice player in a side that largely plays in a cavalier pass and move style, to a second choice player in a largely defensive long-ball style side.
He’s done himself a favour financially, and smashed his thumb with a hammer career wise. I struggle to sympathise.
With Conte’s system, whether you like it or not, you wouldn’t drop Hojberg or Bentancur anyway? Surely he’ll get his chances as the season progresses?