With Tottenham open to selling Mousa Dembele in January, Mauricio Pochettino will need a replacement who is capable of dominating the midfield and providing composure in possession.
Moussa Sissoko has been a revelation in the engine room this season, dominating his opponent and providing the necessary protection in front of the defence, but Spurs may need another player in the role.
They need not look further than Wilfried Ndidi of Leicester City who has been one of the Premier League’s best defensive-midfielders. The 22-year-old has made 19 league appearances this season, boasting 65 tackles and 42 interceptions – Ndidi averages a defensive action every 16 minutes.
He’s a key player under Claude Puel but could be open to a move away from the King Power Stadium for a club like Tottenham. Despite signing a new deal in August, Ndidi could still have his head turned by significant interest in the January transfer window.
Pochettino has already made it clear that Tottenham aren’t likely to spend heavily in January, if at all, but the uncertain future of Dembele might force them to act.
The Belgian international is out of contract next summer and might be sold in January for the sake of getting some money back. Ndidi may be approached in the winter transfer window rather than next summer as a result, but there’s no official confirmation of this.
Crippy Cooke’s previous article
Mauricio Pochettino should sign 21-year-old to solve Tottenham’s defensive crisis – opinion