Napoli consider Bentaleb - should he stay?

TRANSFER TALK



Napoli are reported to be interested in Nabil Bentaleb, who has fallen down the pecking order at White Hart Lane after injury, troubled contract negotiations and the form of Eric Dier. He has almost become a forgotten figure.

Spurs fans love to hate their own players, of course, so we have an element who seem to shout sell sell sell to anyone who isn't currently playing in the first-team, whether they have an ability, have shown the ability or have potential or not. Looking at things without the emotional baggage that determines these decisions, Nabil Bentaleb can be a very decent player, he has already shown he can play at this level. What we perhaps still don't know is his current mentality.

He fought his way up from being thrown on the scrapheap in France, thanks to his attitude, to get into our first team. That demonstrated the winning mentality we require, however, once there his contract negotiations where he demanded top wages, rather suggests an I've made it attitude I don't have to try. The danger is that a player stops putting in the effort to improve every day and there were rumours that that was the case with ITK suggesting he eventually got his head down and started training hard again towards the back end of the season.

Many fans are quite happy to throw him on the scrapheap, but there is a decent player in there if his attitude doesn't get the better of him. It seems to be a tightrope he walks. Sky Italia report Napoli are considering taking him. I doubt anything will happen until a) the Victor Wanyama situation is sorted and b) we have played pre-season games.

Bentaleb has the ability to play both defensive midfield role, either the Dier defensive or the Dembele more attacking role. He has slotted in and done very well at left-back so the ability is there, the versatility Pochettino likes is there, it just a question of channeling his mentality back into improving his football.

From what I understand that has happened and thus, I don't think he is going to be sold this summer so the Italian interest will come to nothing.