Georges-Kevin Nkoudou is reportedly on his way to Besiktas after failing to start a Premier League game for Tottenham Hotspur under Mauricio Pochettino.
Georges-Kevin Nkoudou is set to accept a pay cut in order to seal a move from Tottenham Hotspur to Besiktas, according to the Evening Standard.
A French winger who moved to North London for £11 million after a prolonged 2016 transfer saga, it is fair to say Nkoudou wasn’t exactly worth the wait. In three years, the former Marseille starlet has made just 10 Premier League appearances for Spurs – and all of those have come from the bench.
While Nkoudou has shown flashes of promise – that wonderful last-minute assist to set up Harry Winks’ January winner away at Fulham is still fresh in the memory – it feels like an overdue parting of the ways is for the best.
The Evening Standard reports that the 24-year-old is set to join Besiktas for £4.6 million, less than half what Spurs paid for him three years ago.
Furthermore, Nkoudou is expected to earn £29,000 a week in Istanbul, a decrease from his current £35,000 a week deal at Tottenham (Spotrac).
Chairman Daniel Levy, however, has prepared for a worst-case scenario by including a clause in Nkoudou’s contract which will see Spurs receive 50 per cent of any future sale should the skilful wide man rediscover his dazzling Marseille form over in Turkey.
And in an era where so many players are happy to sit on the bench and accumulate their millions, Nkoudou deserves plenty of credit for valuing game time over cold-hard cash.
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