Fenerbahce president Ali Koc reveals why they ended the pursuit of Tottenham misfit Yves Bissouma
Yves Bissouma is yet to feature for Tottenham Hotspur this season under new boss Thomas Frank. The central midfielder, 29, is into the final year of his contract and the Hotspur Way chiefs had wanted to cash in on him since the start of summer.
Thomas Frank dropped him from the squad against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup in August due to persistent lateness. He has also been omitted from Spurs’ 22-man Champions League squad, which has surprised many fans given the 29-year-old played a key role in the UEFA Europa League final win over Manchester United in Bilbao.
Having been made available for transfer behind the scenes for some time now, Yves Bissouma still continues to be on the club’s payroll. Even more than a week after the end of the market in the big European leagues, the Lilywhites are still looking to offload the Mali midfielder, especially as the market still remains open in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Greece.
The African star was strongly linked with a move to Galatasaray and Fenerbahce. Recently we saw that his proposed move to Fenerbahce collapse at the final hurdle. The Istanbul side had been looking to sign Bissouma from Spurs, but then they had some concerns over his fitness during medical tests, which forced them to switch targets.
Fenerbahce president lifts the lid on failed Bissouma move
Fenerbahce president Ali Koc has now lifted the lid on the Bissouma transfer saga, revealing that the club came agonisingly close to landing Tottenham midfielder before an untimely injured ended the deal.
“We all want a number 8. Bissouma was very close, but he [Bissouma] got injured, Ali Koc told Turkish outlet Fener Ajans.
“A smart number 8. Someone who can distribute the ball intelligently, play box to box. We are working on a young name. At Fenerbahçe, transfers don’t end until the last minute. Neither the arrivals nor the departures end. We will push the conditions until the very last moment.”
No way back for Bissouma at Spurs?
Since the collapsed Fenerbahce move, Tottenham have not managed to find a suitor for Bissouma as yet. It looks highly possible that the Mali international stays put at N17 and fights for his place, although a way back under Frank remains difficult. He is apparently not part of the Dane’s plans, and even if the enforcer stays, the 29-year-old is unlikely to get regular minutes this season.
Hopefully, the Hotspur Way chiefs managed to offload the ex-Brighton star, either on loan or permanently, as soon as possible, and especially before the transfer market closes in Turkey and Saudi Arabia. This will not only allow Spurs to lighten their squad but also get a fee that could be reinvested on a new player in January.
