Tottenham Transfer News: Moussa Sissoko Discusses Fee After Deadline-Day Move

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Moussa Sissoko is not worried about his £30 million price tag and said he chose to join Spurs over Everton because they are a "big club." 

The France international moved to White Hart Lane on transfer deadline day after also having talks with Everton. He is confident he has made the correct move and insists the fee will not affect his performances on the pitch.

"For me it is the same. I don't have pressure," Sissoko said, per Mark Ashenden of Sky Sports. "Newcastle [United] asked for £30 million, Tottenham paid it so that is good for me, good for Newcastle and good for Tottenham. Everyone is happy so that is the most important thing."

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy had offered less initially, but the Championship side stood firm and Sissoko put pen to paper on a five-year deal.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

The 27-year-old said playing Champions League football and the stature of both clubs meant the decision to opt for London over Merseyside was a straightforward one.

Sissoko said of his choice:

"

I spoke with Everton but when Tottenham came I wanted to join this club directly because it is a big club. Everything in my head was clear so I signed here.

I've played in the Europa League and World Cups, I wanted to play in the Champions League. So I said yes I wanted to join this place.

I'm very happy to be here. I need to work hard and be 100 per cent as soon as possible and help the team to win something and help them do well this season.

"

The midfielder tweeted his reaction after signing for the club:

However, Sissoko's first action for Spurs in Europe's top club competition didn't go well, with a 2-1 defeat to Monaco at Wembley Stadium.

"The most important thing is we have a good reaction," Sissoko said. "We deserved to draw the game against Monaco, but it was a bad day for us. We need to learn from this game and focus on the next game against Sunderland."

Sissoko's switch for such a high fee followed a string of impressive displays for France at Euro 2016 and subsequently prompted debate as to why the player had rarely performed for relegated Newcastle the way he did for his country this summer.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

As Jack Pitt-Brooke of The Independent noted: "Sissoko may not be an obvious Pochettino player, given the worries about his application and consistency. But he proved at Euro 2016 that he can rise to the occasion, and it may well be that in a better environment, with a better coach and team-mates, that he would deliver more often."

For Newcastle fans, his sale was a godsend, per Simon Meecham of the Chronicle.

However, for Spurs, his arrival adds an extra physical dimension to a young side who sometimes lack a forceful edge in attacking areas.

An attack-minded player, Sissoko's direct approach should give manager Mauricio Pochettino a handy extra option.