SISSOKO WON’T EVEN IMPROVE SPURS BENCH
EVERTON were said to be furious when Moussa Sissoko ‘went missing’ after they had chartered a private flight to take him to Merseyside on deadline day. Going missing, they would have learned, is a recurring theme with the France midfielder, who ignored Everton’s calls and instead signed for Spurs in a £30million deal. Everton had a lucky escape. While they were miffed that Sissoko had gone off radar for a few hours on Wednesday night, that annoyance is nothing compared to the supporters and staff of Newcastle United who have wondered where he has been for the best part of three years. Even in an age where inflated transfer fees are offset against the vast income of Premier League clubs, Spurs have paid way over the odds for Sissoko. In some ways, the cost remains irrelevant and, if any player improves a side, they are worth it. Sissoko, though, will not improve this talented Spurs XI. He might not even improve their bench. As an observer of his entire time on Tyneside, there is perhaps no player who frustrated more during Newcastle’s decline towards the Championship. On his day, yes, the 27-year-old is capable of dictating a contest. That, though, is not through cunning and wit, more through the raw ingredients of pace and power. Technically, he is found wanting. With Sissoko it is more accident than design, he is a force-of-nature type who can cause panic when he is in full flow. For those days to happen, however, he needs to be motivated, and therein lies the problem with a player who coasted through last season and only turned it on during the final few weeks under Rafa Benitez. He scored one goal last term, a late strike in a 3-0 home win over Swansea. They used to duck in the Gallowgate End when he sized up a shot. Yet through all of this Sissoko believed he was deserving of Champions League football. In a way, you have to admire his confidence. Newcastle, too, were more than happy to let him spout these aspirations in the French press. If he says it enough, perhaps someone will one day believe him. Spurs did, after all. But his performance at Euro 2016 is the reason we have arrived at his extortionate fee. Newcastle supporters could not believe their eyes as Sissoko bossed the opening hour of the final against Portugal. In fact, they looked upon it as an insult. Where had that player been as they slid towards relegation? But this was shop-window time, a chance to dress himself up as a combative and creative presence in the middle of the park, and that he did. That display was better than anything he produced in black and white, save for his home debut against Chelsea when he scored twice in a 3-2 victory. He had arrived a week earlier for just £1.5m from Toulouse. In terms of subsequent profit, it was a good piece of business by Newcastle. But was it really? They might still have been in the Premier League had they not carried an uninterested player for the large part of last season. It was no surprise to see Newcastle supporters willing his departure to go through as the clock ticked towards the deadline. They were more worried than Everton fans when news began to circulate that the move to Goodison Park was off. But then came Spurs, and £30m. For that amount of investment he’ll be expected to show up at White Hart Lane, just don’t bank on it.