Reported Georges-Kevin N'Koudou Deal Gives Tottenham Strength and Flexibility

Tottenham Hotspur are close to completing their third signing of the summer with Georges-Kevin N'Koudou set to join from Marseille in a deal worth around £11 million, per Ed Aarons of the Guardian.

Aarons previously reported West Ham, Manchester United and Liverpool were all considering bids for N'Koudou, but Spurs appear to have beaten them to his signature. 

Their approach had previously seemed to be a failed one. L'Equipe (h/t talkSPORT), reported that OM had refused to sell N'Koudou and had convinced him his development would be better served by staying in Ligue 1. 

Less than three years after making his Ligue 1 debut with Nantes, N'Koudou is now poised to join a Premier League title contender and taste Champions League football. 

Like Vincent Janssen, who signed from AZ Alkmaar last week, N'Koudou is two-footed. This is a hugely valuable trait for a winger as defenders must be aware of both sides and cannot commit as readily as they would against a more one-footed player. 

N'Koudou, a pacy French youth international hit 10 goals in 41 appearances last season despite playing on the wing. 

Normally posted on the left but capable on the right, too, N'Koudou affords Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino the tactical flexibility that he craves. 

There are no genuine wide men in Spurs' current squad. 

Erik Lamela is nominally a winger, but, playing an inverted role, he constantly seeks space inside rather than stretching the opposition defence with width. 

N'Koudou enjoys taking on his opponent on the outside and using his rare pace to create dangerous situations. 

Lamela was occasionally posted on the left last season, and he and N'Koudou could be used together if Pochettino is keen to tweak his approach for specific opponents. 

N'Koudou will make Spurs a far more dangerous threat on the counter-attack and should help alleviate pressure when the opposition is chasing the match. 

Claude Paris/Associated Press

His presence on the pitch will demand caution from opposition defenders. 

Tottenham have essentially replaced Andros Townsend with a comparable but younger and more technically gifted player while pocketing a small profit. 

The reported fee is somewhat high for a relatively inexperienced player but is similar to what the club paid 12 months ago to sign Clinton Njie, also from Ligue 1. 

Njie's Spurs career could be heavily influenced by the arrival of N'Koudou. 

Aarons reported that Marseille hope to take him back to France on loan, while Tottenham are likely to rely on him in a rotation and back-up role in a busy season. 

Njie was Pochettino's preferred first substitute when fit last season. 

The Cameroonian allowed Harry Kane to drop into a deeper role and dictate play while keeping defenders honest with his threatening pace. 

The arrival of Janssen likely sees Njie relegated to third choice, while N'Koudou could take his place as the likely substitute. 

Competition for places in the four attacking roles in Pochettino's system is now at the desired level for a club that aspires to challenge at home and abroad. 

For now, Tottenham's attacking-midfield line of Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Lamela are unquestioned, but N'Koudou's arrival, as well as the return of Alex Pritchard and emergence of Josh Onomah, mean there are no certainties. 

This deal could also indicate the club's willingness to move on from Nacer Chadli. 

The Belgian made 40 appearances last season but few were memorable, and he will likely see reduced opportunities in the coming season. 

Two years ago Chadli was a regular starter in Spurs' strongest lineup. 

That the club has upgraded the squad around him and is now arguably beyond his level is laudable indeed. 

This summer has seen Tottenham resolve two of their most pressing issues—the absence of an alternate option at centre-forward and the lack of depth in defensive midfield—and this deal simply adds polish to an already impressive squad. 

Claude Paris/Associated Press