Stambouli move to PSG imminent

Benjamin Stambouli is looking to leave Tottenham after just one season at the club. Having made just twelve league appearances with eight of those coming off the bench it would seem that the writing is on the wall for the uncapped Frenchman.

Indeed, a move to newly promoted Watford where he would link up with former Spurs Etienne Capoue and Heurelho Gomes seemed imminent. However, Paris Saint-Germain have made an eleventh hour bid in an attempt to tempt the 24 year old to the Parc des Princes. He would take the place in the squad of the recently departed Yohan Cabaye who moved to Crystal Palace for a reported £10m.

Tottenham are said to be demanding £6m for the want-away midfielder who has been unable to make an impact on Tottenham’s first team since his £4m move from Montpellier in Ligue 1. There is also a possibility of players moving the other way, with Tottenham being linked to Stambouli’s compatriot Adrien Rabiot. The young midfielder’s mother, who also acts as his agent, has signalled his intent to leave to leave the Paris based club with a lack of playing time at the centre of the dispute.

Both Rabiot and Stambouli play in defensive midfield a move would make sense for both parties. The signing of 20 year old Rabiot would continue Pochettino’s policy of recruiting young, hungry, raw players and transforming them into international superstars – indeed, Tottenham’s best players last season were arguably youth academy players with Harry Kane being the top scorer for the club.

Fellow youth products Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason also kept Stambouli out of the side for long periods of time, demonstrating the manager’s commitment to developing youth players and helping them transition into regular first team players.