Pundit blasts Tottenham signing Sissoko referencing his performances for Newcastle last season.
Portugal’s Adrien Silva in action with France’s Moussa Sissoko
Paul Merson has slammed the effort Moussa Sissoko put in for Newcastle United last season amid his deadline day move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Sissoko clinched a £30 million move to Spurs on deadline day, becoming the club’s most expensive signing of the transfer window.
Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko (L) in action with Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen
The Frenchman was part of a Newcastle side which was relegated from the Premier League last season, and Merson has accused him of being a mere bystander in their survival battle.
Speaking to SkySports’ deadline day television coverage, Merson said: “I watched him at Newcastle last year and he watched the team get relegated, he stood out on the wing.
“He never give enough to what he could have done. If he played like that [how he did at Euro 2016] they could have stayed up.”
Sissoko struggled under Newcastle boss Steve McClaren and his efforts under Rafa Benitez last season were too little too late.
Moussa Sissoko celebrates scoring the second goal for Newcastle United
At France at Euro 2016 he did indeed look like a very different player, starring in Les Bleus’ run to the final.
Merson suggests the issues were all mental on Sissoko’s part, a case of application rather than his talent being in question.
Tottenham will hope that he can lift his game for them next season, but will be right to have concerns as to whether he is the right player to turn a game, or poor run around, if things are going against them.
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