Glenn Hoddle: Tottenham only have one world-class player... and I am not even sure he will stay

Exclusive Interview by Alessandro Schiavone

MARSEILLE- Glenn Hoddle claimed that Tottenham Hotspur only have one world-class footballer in their ranks in Micky van de Ven.

Yet Hoddle, who spent 17 years at White Hart Lane before leaving for Monaco, doubts the Dutchman will commit his long-term future to the club given how coveted he is.

Former fan favourite Hoddle, 68, exclusively told Capital Football: "Van de Ven is under still a long contract.

"They are looking to sign him now on a long contract.

"I don’t think he will sign.

"But he’s still got three years on his contract.

"I think they will wanna try and keep him because he is a world-class performer and probably the only one that we have who is world-class.

"When I say world-class I mean he’d get into any team, he could go into Man City, Liverpool…you name it Barcelona, Paris Saint Germain… everyone would want him because he’s that good.

"But they need to improve this season there’s no doubt about it… otherwise we will be mid-table. “

Xavi Simons finally got off the mark in the Premier League in the Lilywhites' 2-0 win over Brentford at the weekend after a series of underwhelming displays marred his start to life in north London.

Hoddle is confident he will recapture the form that marked him out as one of the Bundesliga's finest players outside Bayern Munich.

He said: "Well, he’s been brought in to be that sort of creative player and make the spark happen.

"And it hasn’t happened yet. He’s a very good player but needs some little bit more time to feel comfortable in the Tottenham shirt.

"There’s a lot of expectation… he needs to score and play one good game (then) I think he will go better and better.

"Let’s hope that happens.”

He then pinpointed the precise reason why Thomas Frank's side have found the going tough so far.

For him the fact their treatment table is occupied by three ingenious players has been a real thorn in the flesh.

He continued: "They started very well but obviously they’ve started to tumble a little bit.

"They’ve missed some key players.

"Kulusevski is a big miss, Maddison and Solanke [are big misses].

"When they come back I think Spurs will come again.

"At the moment it’s a bit of a tricky time for Spurs.

"They are not playing very well.

"The three players I’ve just mentioned is one of the reasons why there’s not as much creation as there was last year.

"They are certainly more pragmatic and they are a little bit more difficult to beat particularly away from home.

"They have done well away from home apart from the Arsenal game.

"But they are finding it hard to create at home.

"They haven’t got enough some sort of spark and creativity, a little bit somebody who is gonna make the difference.

"They are struggling a little bit, it’s a little bit a stop-start season at the moment.”