As the summer transfer window reaches a crescendo of activity, Sky Sports runs the rule over the high-profile movers in the Premier League. Hit or miss? Read our assessment and offer your own verdict here...
Monday 1 September 2014 22:54, UK
BENJAMIN STAMBOULI
To: Tottenham
From: Montpellier
Fee: £4.7m
Age: 24
Position: Midfielder
Nationality: French
BIO
The former France Under-21 international joined Montpellier as a youngster, making his debut in 2010. The holding midfielder quickly established himself as a first-team regular and featured 26 times in the club’s title-winning campaign the following season. He joins Spurs having made over 100 appearances in Ligue 1 as well as enjoying a brief taste of Champions League action in the 2012/13 season. Stambouli has signed on a five-year deal.
THEY SAY
“Signing for Tottenham is a great step forward,” said Montpellier coach Rolland Courbis at the weekend. “He should be able to earn a call-up to the France national team. Tottenham have made a very good decision in signing him.”
HE SAYS
“I like to talk in the locker room, it's a pleasure for me. You have to manage when it goes wrong and I'm glad to have responsibilities. I think I'm a more mature player now. I still have that desire to learn and improve. Every day I come to training thinking that I'll finish the day a better player if I work hard.”
HIT?
Stambouli arrives at White Hart Lane with a reputation as a tough-tackling midfielder. Indeed, only three players in Ligue 1 made more tackles than him last season. Also capable of operating at centre-back, he has the potential to be a reliable addition at a reasonable price.
MISS?
Stambouli worked hard to establish himself at Montpellier and that task now begins all over again at Tottenham where competition for a starting spot remains fierce. Stambouli will be battling with the likes of Paulinho, Etienne Capoue, Nabil Bentaleb and Mousa Dembele so he’ll be expected to seize his chance when it arrives.
VERDICT
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino favours the pressing game and appears to have identified Stambouli as the sort of enthusiastic midfielder capable of initiating this tactic in much the same way that Morgan Schneiderlin was able to do for the Argentine at Southampton. If he gets the chance to impress, it would be no surprise for the Frenchman to emerge as a bargain buy.
