Tottenham Hotspur’s January transfer window is heating up, and all eyes are on midfielder Yves Bissouma—a player whose turbulent stint in North London seems to be approaching its conclusion. As the club languishes in 14th place in the Premier League and manager Thomas Frank faces mounting pressure, Bissouma’s future has become a focal point for fans and pundits alike. The Mali international, who’s currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), has found himself at the heart of transfer speculation, disciplinary debates, and questions about fairness within the Spurs locker room.
Bissouma’s Tottenham journey has been anything but smooth. After joining the club with high expectations, his time has been marked by a series of setbacks. He hasn’t made a single appearance under Thomas Frank, who took over from Brentford, and his contract is set to expire in just six months. The midfielder’s relationship with the club soured following several disciplinary issues, including being dropped from the UEFA Super Cup squad against Paris Saint-Germain in August 2025 for persistent lateness—a decision that set the tone for his marginalization under Frank.
The situation worsened after Bissouma sustained an injury during international duty and became involved in a nitrous oxide incident, which led to a suspension last season. Tottenham’s efforts to offload him began in earnest during the summer, with attempts to broker a deal with Turkish clubs falling flat. Now, as the January window progresses, the club is eager to sanction a transfer while Bissouma is away at AFCON—hoping his performances on the international stage might finally attract a buyer.
Football analyst John Wenham summed up the club’s predicament, stating, “They were desperately trying to sell him in the summer to the Turkish league. Hopefully, if he continues to play well at AFCON… someone will buy him at the end of that.” Former scout Bryan King echoed this sentiment, adding, “A deal is still there to be done, and it can still be done whether or not AFCON is finished. He’s a player who has disrupted everything since he’s been there. I would have thought the best time to move him on is now. If he’s doing well for Mali, I’m surprised a Spanish, French or Italian club hasn’t come in for him.”
Bissouma’s AFCON campaign has indeed been a mixed bag, but it’s given him a rare chance to showcase his talents. Initially sidelined in Mali’s opening 1-1 draw with Zambia, he returned to play 57 minutes against Morocco and 63 minutes against Comoros, helping Mali secure a spot in the knockout stages. The midfielder started the match against Tunisia, and despite missing a penalty in the shootout, Mali advanced to the quarter-finals—setting up a high-stakes clash with Senegal. The match is scheduled for this week, and fans eager to follow Bissouma’s progress can tune in via E4 or the Channel 4 app.
Despite his positive shifts for Mali, Bissouma’s club record remains underwhelming. Since joining Spurs, he has scored just two goals and failed to register a single assist—a stat line that hardly justifies his reputation as a game-changer. Nevertheless, his AFCON performances have reportedly piqued the interest of clubs across Europe, with La Liga and Serie A sides said to be monitoring him closely. A move to a slower-paced league like Serie A has been suggested as a potential lifeline, with King noting, “If he’s playing well, of course, clubs will be watching and be interested.”
The urgency to finalize Bissouma’s departure is underscored by Tottenham’s broader struggles. Thomas Frank is under immense scrutiny, with upcoming Premier League fixtures against West Ham and Burnley seen as make-or-break for his tenure. The team’s pragmatic approach under Frank has drawn criticism, and there’s a sense among insiders that his authority is slipping. Some within the club believe Frank has been unduly harsh on Bissouma, especially when contrasted with his handling of other disciplinary issues.
The recent controversy surrounding captain Cristian Romero has only fueled the perception of double standards. After Spurs’ 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth, Romero took to Instagram to criticize senior figures at the club, accusing them of only appearing when things are going well and, in his original post, of telling lies—a claim he later edited out. Despite the public nature of the outburst, Frank and sporting director Johan Lange opted not to fine or strip Romero of the captaincy, choosing instead to handle the matter internally. “He is our captain, he’s not been fined,” Frank stated at a pre-match press conference. “We handled it. Johan and I spoke together. Johan and I had a conversation with Cuti. Done.”
Frank defended the club’s approach to discipline, saying, “I think there are a lot of ways to deal with different situations. We’ve chose to have a good conversation with him, understand where he stands, handle it internally, and that’s everything I have to say.” He also referenced Bissouma’s previous punishment for lateness, emphasizing that each case is unique. “You can make a mistake, don't make the same mistake twice. So I think I understand why you mention some players, but it’s all different situations and different players. We’re working very hard on being a cool, calm, but still passionate unit that can compete every game. That will go a little bit up and a little bit down.”
However, not everyone is convinced by Frank’s reasoning. Reports from The Telegraph and other sources suggest that Bissouma has been treated unfairly compared to Romero, with some viewing the lack of sanctions for the captain as evidence of favoritism. “It does feel somewhat harsh that Bissouma has not even had a chance to prove himself to Frank and prove that he’s serious about changing his ways,” one source noted. The prevailing sentiment is that if Bissouma is not in Frank’s plans, the club should expedite his exit and reinvest the saved wages in creative reinforcements.
As the transfer window enters its decisive phase, Tottenham’s handling of Bissouma’s situation will be closely watched—not just by supporters, but by potential suitors across Europe. With three weeks left before the window slams shut, the club is eager to strike a deal that will provide a modest financial boost and, perhaps, a fresh start for a player whose Premier League adventure never quite took flight.
For now, Bissouma’s immediate focus remains on helping Mali go as far as possible at AFCON. Whether his performances there will be enough to secure a move away from Tottenham remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure: the coming weeks could be pivotal for both club and player as they look to turn the page on a turbulent chapter.
