Monday 1 September 2014 15:19, UK
Montpellier coach Rolland Courbis believes a move to Tottenham will be a ‘great step forward’ for Benjamin Stambouli.
The French club announced over the weekend that they had agreed to sell the midfielder to Spurs, and he is set to complete a switch to White Hart Lane before Monday’s 11pm deadline.
Courbis says that he could not stand in the 24-year-old’s way and hopes he will go on to have a successful career in the Premier League, as well as at international level.
“Signing for Tottenham is a great step forward,” Courbis said in the French press. “He should be able to join the French team.
“Tottenham had a very good idea to sign him.”
Stambouli reportedly attracted interest from a number of other clubs, but it was Fiorentina who were thought to be Tottenham’s closest competitors.
However, the player’s agent says he had set his heart on a move to the Premier League and believes Fiorentina should have shown more urgency.
David Martinez told Tuttomercatoweb: "Stambouli preferred Tottenham to Fiorentina.
“Benjamin's first choice was the Premier League and we have received a concrete offer from England.
“Fiorentina's error was wasting too much time to close the deal with Montpellier, about two weeks.”
