Yves Bissouma could be sold by Tottenham

Matthew Chadder

Sat 16 December 2023 7:40, UK

For the second time this season, Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma was sent off in the Premier League, this time during a 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Friday (15 December).

Spurs recorded back-to-back Premier League wins against Steve Cooper’s side, but it wasn’t all plain sailing for the North London outfit during their trip to the East Midlands.

Just five minutes after Dejan Kulusevski had added a goal to his first-half assist to double the visitors’ lead, Bissouma was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Forest’s Ryan Yates.

It made for a nervy end for Ange Postecoglou’s side, but some resolute defending and inspired saves from Guglielmo Vicario meant they were able to hold on for the three points and preserve their clean sheet.

Nonetheless, Postecoglou will no doubt be left fuming with Bissouma, who has let his side down once again after being sent off during the 1-0 win against Luton Town on 7 October. It leaves the Australian with yet another selection headache ahead of next week’s visit of high-flying Everton, with Destiny Udogie also suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.

Bissouma will now serve a four-match suspension and with his commitments with Mali at AFCON to begin in January, it might be February until Spurs supporters see the 27-year-old back in action.

Speaking as a pundit live on Sky Sports after the match (15 December), former Manchester United right-back Gary Neville made his feelings clear on the former Brighton man and his teammates’ ill-discipline in recent weeks.

“They’ve got to stop it because they’re going to cost Tottenham. Spurs will drop points without these players,” he said.

“If they’re injured, you can’t do anything about it. But if they’re continually being rash and reckless with these challenges, it becomes stupidity, it’s madness.”

What would have been most frustrating for Tottenham’s supporters and Postecoglou was that Bissouma was having a relatively composed performance up until that challenge on Yates.

The midfielder had completed 83 per cent of his passes and was strong defensively, winning four of his five ground duels, and one of his two aerial duels while also making three tackles (Sofascore).

After a disappointing string of performances, his much-improved showing in the 4-1 win against Newcastle, throughout which he made eight tackles and won 10 ground duels, before his positive display against Forest up until his moment of ‘madness’ had been encouraging.

However, it seems as if this challenge leaves him back at square one, and it will be interesting to see how Spurs cope without such a key player, and how he reacts upon his return to the team in February.

In other Tottenham news, one Spurs expert has called for investment to continue in the club’s women’s team.