Spurs, Newcastle boost as Brighton make £50m star U-turn

Tottenham and Newcaste have been handed a boost in their bid to sign Yves Bissouma, with Brighton now reportedly ‘willing to sell’ the midfielder in January.

With just a couple of days left of the window, both Newcastle and Spurs are scrambling for new signings.

Having been snubbed by Adama Traore and also reportedly missing out on Liverpool-bound Luis Diaz, Spurs have turned their attention to Juventus star Dejan Kulusevski as Antonio Conte looks to bolster his forward options.

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But the Spurs boss also wants reinforcements in the centre of midfield, with Tanguy Ndombele a possible departure this month.

Newcastle are also looking to add to their midfield ranks, and both clubs have been linked with Bissouma, along with Aston Villa, Liverpool and Arsenal at various points in the last couple of seasons.

Graham Potter said earlier this month that he was confident Bissouma would still be a Seagull come February.

“Players at this level, and Yves is the same, know that at this time of year there’s speculation, things in newspapers, it’s part of what they have to deal with,” said Potter.

“They also know that they have to focus on the football and let all of the other stuff take care of itself.

“I’m confident (he will stay in January). I think Yves is enjoying his football here but, with the transfer window, you never know.

“We have to adapt to anything, which we do. You always plan for something you can’t necessarily foresee, so we’re in a good place, but we’ll see.”

But The Times now claim that Brighton are ‘willing to sell’ the 25-year-old, who has 18 months left on his current deal at the Amex.

Former England international Darren Bent believes Arsenal should be the club to go after Bissouma.

“I would like to see Arsenal go and get Yves Bissouma from Brighton,” Bent said.

“I really like him, I think he’s a top, top player. He’s gettable as well.

“Him and Partey in the middle of the park, that is what you call protection in front of the back four by the way.

“You let the likes of [Emile] Smith Rowe, [Martin] Odegaard bomb forward.

“If you can Yves Bissouma, I think he can turn into a top player in this league, I really do. I really like him.

“He’s one of those players that can be box-to-box but if you ask him to sit there, he’s comfortable in possession. Yeah he’s a top player.”