Tottenham Reward Exciting French Midfielder With New Four-Year Deal

Tottenham Hotspur have handed a new four-year contract to young midfielder Nabil Bentaleb who has committed his future to the club until 2018.

The 18-year old forced his way into the Spurs Under-21 side last season after a string of excellent displays in the NextGen Series as the north London club made the quarter-finals of the European competition.

Bentaleb went on to make 14 appearances for Chris Ramsey's Under-21 side and scored four goals, including a memorable winner against north London rivals Arsenal.

Despite being released from Lille's academy when he was 15 and failing to impress during a trial at Birmingham, the elegant midfielder is clearly in the long terms plans of Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas.

Tottenham have handed opportunities to academy players over the course of the last 12 months with the likes of Steven Caulker - before his move to Cardiff City - Harry Kane and Andros Townsend all appearing in the first team under Villas-Boas.

Townsend has particularly impressed since being handed a chance to shine on the right wing and Bentaleb will hope that once he gains a chance in the first team he will be able to similarly grab the headlines.

Despite having the ability to play as a deep lying midfielder, Bentaleb has often excelled when handed a more influential role further forward and has drawn comparisons to former Tottenham playmaker Adel Taarabt.

Influential blog French Football Weekly were just one of the publications to make the comparison, saying: "With his tall, strong physique and his ease on the ball, as well as his north African roots, his seemingly shortish temper and the Spurs connection, comparisons with Adel Taraabt are too tempting to resist (obviously another tall, moody, skilful Algerian Frenchman springs to mind but let's not get over-excited yet).

"If he is given the opportunity to develop as a number 10, supported by a strong youth set-up and the advice of a nucleus of experienced compatriots in Lloris and Kaboul, there is no reason at all why Nabil Bentaleb cannot establish himself in Tottenham's first team in the near future."