Georges-Kevin NKoudou is set to be offered a January exit from Tottenham after failing to break into the first team, according to Football London.
The Trinity Mirror site claim that the big-name 2016 summer signing is likely to be loaned out or sold permanently next month by the north London club.
Football London report that NKoudou has “struggled to settle and adapt to the league and lifestyle” during what has been a difficult 17 months at the club.
The French winger, 22, signed for Spurs for £11million from Marseille but has never really made an impact on the senior team, with most of his 22 appearances across all competitions coming as a substitute.
NKoudou has played just five times this season and has not once been named in the starting line-up despite long-term absences for the likes of Erik Lamela, Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama.
Pochettino admitted this month that Nkoudou is still not reaching the standard required of players in his first team.
“With GK we are waiting for him still. He is not… you know today he is not showing this condition to play,” explained the Spurs boss.
“He needs to show more. But you know if a player is not involved too much it’s because we believe that they need to show more to deserve to play.”
OPINION
The message from Pochettino is strong and clear; NKoudou is nowhere near good enough to be in his team. This doesn’t mean he lacks ability – his sheer pace marks him out as a threat and he is a decent dribbler – but his lack of work rate is a major issue. Moreover, his touch, passing, combination play, game awareness, tactical understanding, you name it, are far from the level required for a player to shine in Pochettino’s squad. The manager’s decision to publicly criticise the player in his newly-published autobiography is telling. He is clearly tearing his hair out that the message is not getting through, and there appears to be an attitude problem beneath the surface. NKoudou has not cut it in the 17 months since his arrival for an £11million fee that looks more dubious as each day goes by. And, the sad fact is for the Spurs faithful, he never will. A January exit, preferably permanently, makes total sense for all parties.