Bissouma has massive role in Tottenham title bid

✍️ We are pleased to announce the transfer of Yves Bissouma.

Welcome to Spurs, Yves! 💙

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 17, 2022

 
Yves Bissouma was one of the headline transfers of the summer transfer window, completing a £30 million deal to Tottenham from Brighton and Hove Albion on a four-year contract. The Mali international was a standout for the Seagulls for four seasons, earning adulation from top-six clubs. Brighton managed to fend off interest for two years before Spurs moved to secure his signature as part of the Antonio Conte revolution in the North London outfit.

Bissouma now has the chance to play a pivotal role in Tottenham's quest to win their first Premier League crown. Outside of Manchester City and Liverpool, Spurs are one of the top teams to consider, being backed at 13/1 in the Premier League winner odds. With Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Richarlison in the final third, Spurs have a great chance to compete with their rivals at the top of the table along with the experience of Conte in the dugout, who has won the Premier League before with Chelsea in the 2016/17 season.

.@SpursOfficial: "We can now confirm that fellow new arrival Yves Bissouma will wear the number 38 shirt during the coming season."✅ pic.twitter.com/281TaaMH7L

— The Spurs Express (@TheSpursExpress) August 5, 2022

Although he was left out of the opening day starting line-up, Bissouma will have a huge part to play for Tottenham over the course of the campaign, especially due to the World Cup which will increase the workload of their midfielders. As Mali have not qualified for Qatar 2022, Bissouma will have to rest and recuperate at home while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur are away with Denmark and Uruguay respectively. Hojbjerg, Bentancur and Bissouma all have similar skill sets, but there are only two slots in Tottenham's midfield in their 3-4-3 system that features wing-backs Emerson and Ryan Sessegnon.

However, depth will be important for Conte over the course of the term. Both Denmark and Uruguay have the ability to compete deep into the competition, which means that both Hojbjerg and Bentancur will have to play additional games and have training sessions in the heat of Qatar, potentially sapping their energy in the middle of a Premier League campaign. It might not matter in the immediate aftermath of the World Cup, but come the latter stages of the season, boasting fresh legs will be huge for clubs chasing the Premier League crown.

Bissouma will not only have plenty of gas left in the tank, but he will also have further time to take in the coaching from Conte and his staff. The Italian requires a lot from his midfielders, but it has resulted in the ultimate success as N'Golo Kante and Jorginho proved in 2016/17 and even at Inter Milan with Marcelo Brozovic and Christian Eriksen. Conte certainly brought out the best in those players, and Bissouma has the chance to take his game to the next level in a title-winning side.

Remaining injury-free will be crucial for the Mali international, as one of the reasons that he missed out on the thumping 4-1 win over Southampton from the off was a mild hamstring problem. He has not completed a 38-game season before in the Premier League, and the extra demands of the Champions League may also weigh into the equation. It could be a big campaign for Bissouma, but he must ensure that he grasps the opportunity to play his role.