Tottenham Hotspur signed the French international while the Moroccan headed to Southampton.
For much of last summer, Tottenham Hotspur were linked with a move for winger Sofiane Boufal, with the Guardian among others suggesting the Lille man was on the agenda at White Hart Lane.
Instead Tottenham moved for Georges-Kevin N’Koudou and Moussa Sissoko, with Boufal heading to Southampton for £16million (as reported by the BBC).
Boufal’s injury problems meant he was a minor risk for the Saints, with the Moroccan international’s knee problem delaying his debut for Claude Puel’s men.
However, he is now over that initial disappointment and is already showing glimpses of the superb talent he is tipped to become.
In contrast, while N’Koudou is one for the future at White Hart Lane, £30million man Sissoko is struggling to live up to his price tag.
When you consider Sissoko has played most of his matches for Spurs thus far on the right wing, one wonders why Tottenham did not instead opt for Boufal, whose versatility means he can operate anywhere along the line.
He would have cost £14million less than the French international and at just 23 he would have been a typical Daniel Levy signing.
Instead Tottenham opted to go big on a player they did not really need – a man with an engine but without the sparkle to excel on the wing or the talent to usurp the likes of Mousa Dembele or Dele Alli in the middle of the park.
Boufal will be a star for Southampton; it is just a shame for Tottenham that they did not take the risk first.
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