Tottenham target in-form Valencia midfielder Kondogbia

Bengaluru, December 6: Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur have found Mousa Dembele's long-term successor in Geoffrey Kondogbia, according to reports in Spain and England.

Mousa Dembele has been hit with injury problems and is entering the final 18 months of his contract with the north London club.

According to reports in England, Mauricio Pochettino has identified Valencia loanee Geoffrey Kondogbia as the perfect player to succeed Dembele in the long run at White Hart Lane.

The Frenchman has been on top form since arriving on a season-long loan from Inter Milan - helping Los Che rise to second in La Liga.

Spurs were chasing Kondogbia while he was at Monaco but he opted for Italy to join Inter in 2015.

He was a first-team regular until new Inter boss Luciano Spalletti decided to ship him out this summer which was a big surprise to many.

Spurs could pounce at the end of the season, although Valencia claim they have already agreed a deal, which would drive up the price considerably.

General director Mateu Alemany said: "We have a right to buy at the end of the season and already have an agreement with Kondogbia, should we exercise the option.

Spurs do have a healthy competition in their engine room and academy star Harry Winks, 21, has thrived since being given more chances.

However, with Eric Dier dropping to centre-back to cope with Toby Alderweireld’s long-term injury has brought problems for the Argentine manager.

With Alderweireld out until April, Spurs have struggled in the middle of the park and that has concerned the manager.

Alderweireld is likely to leave the north London club next summer after rejecting Spurs’ contract offer and that might see Dier playing a permanent role in defence and Frenchman Kondogbia will therefore be a welcome addition at the club.