Jamie O’Hara candidly admitted that Bissouma’s previous performances had not convinced him of the player’s suitability for Tottenham. In his own words, Bissouma had “done very little to convince him that he was good enough to play for Tottenham.”
However, fast forward to the current season, and the narrative surrounding Yves Bissouma has undergone a significant shift. O’Hara, now a believer in the midfielder’s prowess, made a stunning proclamation. He asserted that Yves Bissouma, the 27-year-old Malian international, is now worth as much as other notable midfielders in the game, such as Declan Rice and Enzo Fernandez. O’Hara’s valuation was an eye-catching £100 million.
It’s challenging to dispute O’Hara’s assessment when you consider the impressive performances Bissouma has delivered this season. His contributions have been vital to Tottenham’s resurgence, and he has played a pivotal role in revitalizing the team’s midfield. However, there was one caveat: Fulham would be breathing a sigh of relief that Bissouma would not be available for the match against Tottenham, following his unfortunate sending-off against Luton just before the international break.
Speaking about Bissouma on TalkSPORT, O’Hara remarked, “All of a sudden I look at the side now and think, ‘You know what, we’ve got that kind of team back again.’ [Destiny] Udogie, [Pedro] Porro, [Micky] Van de Ven, James Maddison, you’ve got a side all of a sudden. [Yves] Bissouma, everyone wrote Bissouma off. Last season, he was absolutely awful. I watched him a couple of times last season, and he looked like he had forgotten how to play football. Like honestly, it was so bad, it was like watching Gabby [Agbonlahor] playing in midfield. And now it’s turned, Bissouma looks brilliant. He looks like a £100 million player.”
In the ever-evolving world of football, Yves Bissouma’s journey from skepticism to superstardom serves as a testament to the unpredictability of the beautiful game. Jamie O’Hara’s valuation of £100 million may raise eyebrows, but it is undeniable that Bissouma’s resurgence has been one of the most captivating stories of the season, offering hope to Tottenham fans and perhaps even inspiring a few reevaluations within the footballing community.