Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly one of the teams keen on signing Yves Bissouma this summer...
What's the word?
That's according to the Daily Star, who claim the North London outfit have made inquiries but it appears their arch-rivals, Arsenal, are the front-runners to secure the Brighton and Hove Albion star.
The 24-year-old still has two years on his current contract at the Seagulls and is valued at around £30m.
Fellow Premier League sides Everton and West Ham United are also mooted with interest.
Imagine him & Hojbjerg
Spurs are currently managerless but any new appointment is set to have multiple midfield options at his disposal, ranging from summer signing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to the likes of Giovani Lo Celso, Dele Alli and Tanguy Ndombele.
But it is the Denmark international that has been a constant presence in the starting XI, playing every minute (3,060) of every league game this term - the only outfield player to do so.
Interestingly, Bissouma has exceeded the returns of Hojbjerg, who could be considered one of Spurs' players of the season come the end of the campaign.
As per WhoScored, the Brighton midfielder has managed more tackles (2.8 vs 2.6), more interceptions (1.7 vs 1.3), and has committed fewer fouls (1.5 vs 1.8) per game in the Premier League than the £15m summer arrival.
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And unlike Hojbjerg, he offers far more going forward, which means he could be the perfect foil rather than a direct replacement or alternative in that role.
His 1.2 shots per outing is a better return than every single Spurs player barring the obvious two in Heung-min Son (two) and Harry Kane (1.4), whilst he's not quite at Ndombele's dribbling ability, managing only 1.5 successful attempts per game, he is a hard man to dispossess, having averaged only 0.8 dispossessions compared to the Frenchman's 1.1 times per game.
Dale Stephens, a former teammate of Bissouma's on the south coast, gave a glowing review about this aspect of his game to reporters in 2019.
"He's got the ability of perhaps a winger playing in central midfield with the way he can go past players," revealed the Burnley midfielder. "His feet are incredible and I'm sure he's going to get better and better. He's got everything you need to be a top player."
The Mali international has also been dubbed a "wonderful talent" by ex-Seagulls boss Chris Hughton and described as "very skilful" by his old Lille colleague Lebo Mothiba.
It remains to be seen if Daniel Levy can afford to stump up around £30m for anyone this summer but if he can, then it should absolutely be on a player of Bissouma's calibre.
Just imagine him and Hojbjerg in the heart of the engine room.
That would surely be enough to tempt anyone into the managerial vacancy - maybe even a certain Graham Potter? Only time will tell.
AND in other news, Spurs set for huge boost as Hotspur Way news emerges, Levy and Mason will be buzzing...