After the departure of this £11m star, Tottenham would be best served by turning their attention to this 28-year-old RB Leipzig powerhouse

Why Tottenham Hotspur must go all out to sign Kevin Kampl

According to a report from BBC, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Moussa Dembele has joined Guangzhou R&F in an £11m deal. The Belgian was initially about to join Beijing Guoan for the same fee but there were complications.

Mousa Dembele, 31, was an integral member of the Tottenham first-team since his move from Fulham back in 2012. For all his quality, the Belgian has always been fundamentally frustrating and his injury problems were a significant factor behind his decision to swap the Premier League for China.

Since Dembele would have been out of contract at the end of the season, getting £11m for a player past his prime represents an excellent piece of business for Tottenham. But as the 31-year-old was such a vital cog in Mauricio Pochettino’s side, Spurs need to replace the midfielder. They have to do it now after failing to sign a single player in the summer transfer window.

Spurs are in clear need of reinforcements following injuries to key players, with star striker Harry Kane the latest to join the growing casualty list. It’s a massive blow for Pochettino and company to lose Kane until March due to an ankle ligament injury he suffered in the 1-0 defeat against Manchester United last week.

With Dembele off to China and Son Heung-min with South Korea for the Asian Cup – and with the likes of Kane, Eric Dier, Victor Wanyama and Moussa Sissoko injured – a couple of new additions would do a world of good for Spurs. That said, Pochettino should target RB Leipzig star Kevin Kampl.

Kevin Kampl, 28, has been a regular in the RB Leipzig XI this season, impressing with his all-round displays on the pitch. He is a versatile player who can play in different positions across the midfield.

The Slovenian’s ability to collect the ball under pressure, shield it and glide past opponents with the drop of a shoulder makes him a delightful player to watch.

The former Bayer Leverkusen man is a hard-working and tenacious customer who can slot in well in the Spurs engine room. Kevin Kampl possesses the ability to create chances from anywhere and his composure on the ball coupled with his vision and technique would make him an asset for Spurs.

Read more: Tottenham bagging the chance to sign this 6ft 2in Danish giant would get them a perfect replacement for Alderweireld

Tottenham need some more creativity from the midfield and also a replacement for Dembele, making Kevin Kampl a smart investment for Pochettino’s side.