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Emma de Duve

Antonio Conte may have found Yves Bissouma's perfect midfield partner at Tottenham

Richarlison became Tottenham's fourth summer signing on Friday, with the Brazilian making a £60million move to N17, on a five-year deal. This came just a couple of weeks after Spurs announced the signing of Yves Bissouma from Brighton.

However with Harry Winks seeming likely to head out the door this summer, the Lilywhites could still look to add to their strong midfield quartet. Antonio Conte could still do with more creativity and attacking flare in the central midfield positions.

Some reports linked John McGinn with a potential move to Tottenham a few months ago and some talk on the 27-year-old has resurfaced. McGinn made 35 Premier League appearances last season, scoring three goals and registering four assists.

READ MORE: Tottenham's next Rafael van der Vaart can give Antonio Conte what he needs amid transfer links

The Aston Villa man's main position is in the central midfield, although he made a number of appearances as a right midfielder and in a slightly more defensive role, during the 2021/22 campaign. The Scottish international was previously compared to Rafael van der Vaart and has earned a lot of praise from his boss, Steven Gerrard.

"There’s not many better people than John McGinn. I’ve been in the game an awfully long time and he is a really infectious character who is great for the group, on and off the pitch. John is the glue to everything that’s good at Aston Villa," Gerrard said, earlier this year.

Although former Aston Villa and Tottenham man Alan Hutton isn't sure if the move will happen, the ex-defender has revealed why he believes McGinn could be a strong addition to Conte's squad. "Is Tottenham going to be the destination? I’m not so sure," Hutton told Football Insider.

"I find it difficult with Villa so close to me I don’t want to see him leaving but I know how good a player he is and what he can be. I think they do need that number eight who can go up and down the pitch.

"Bissouma can do it to a certain extent but he’s more defensive. I think all of Tottenham’s options at this moment in time are very defensive that’s the problem," he added.

"I think they need somebody in there who can assist, who can go forward and make things happen and it’s probably the one thing that they’re possibly missing. McGinn does fit that, he can do that, he does play further forward."

With Villa's signing of Boubacar Kamara, it will hand the 27-year-old a battle for his starting spot, as Birmingham Live have reported and although competition is good in a squad, it could leave Gerrard and McGinn with a decision to make on the player's future. The midfielder has previously spoken about his ambition and he has a number of qualities that could help him slot into Conte's squad and he could potentially pair up with Bissouma in midfield.

Someone who is willing to work hard, fight for his place in the team but also give the Italian more attacking qualities than he currently has, could all make the move a success. McGinn does have a current market value of up to £34.5million according to CIES, so a move would come at a cost, with the Scottish international still having a few years left on his contract.

The 27-year-old may not be top of fans' list for midfielders they want to see at Tottenham and may not have been as heavily linked as a number of other names, but if he did end up being a player Conte believes could strengthen his squad, then could the move be a success?

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