Ryan Mason compared to Moussa Sissoko: A £17m difference for Tottenham?

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Tottenham sold Ryan Mason to Hull and bought Moussa Sissoko from Newcastle. How do the two compare?

Moussa Sissoko celebrates scoring the second goal for Newcastle United

Tottenham Hotspur completed one of the biggest transfers on deadline day when they signed Moussa Sissoko for £30 million.

The midfielder signed from Newcastle United, just 24 hours after Ryan Mason was sold to Hull City for £13 million.

Juventus’ Miralem Pjanic in action with Tottenham’s Ryan Mason

While Spurs’ fee for Sissoko will be paid in instalments, it is fair to wonder whether there is a difference between the two to the scale of a £17 million price gap.

Comparing the two players’ performances in the Premier League over the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons jointly, Ryan Mason actually comes out on top in several key areas – but not all.

Sissoko contributed more in the important column of goals scored and assists, but it should be noted he made 18 more appearances than Mason.

Mason held his own on a per game basis, recording a better pass completion rate, landing a better ratio of his shots on target, and winning more tackles and interceptions.

France’s Moussa Sissoko in action with Switzerland’s Admir Mehmedi

Sissoko was the more creative of the two, making almost twice as many key passes per game than Mason, also recording more touches of the ball.

None of this is to suggest Tottenham were wrong to sell Mason and sign Sissoko, that is a decision made for the good of the team by Mauricio Pochettino which he believes in.

But if Sissoko wants to establish himself as a key player for Spurs, he will have to raise his game to a level above the contribution of Mason, a player Pochettino deemed expendable, and prove it was the right decision to bring him in.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino