The Frenchman has been described as ‘a proper box-to-box midfielder’ by Hugo Lloris, who expects Mauricio Pochettino to improve the new signing

After waiting 18 months to make a signing, Tottenham Hotspur were back in the transfer game on July 2 when Jack Clarke was announced - and hours later the big one was confirmed.

Tanguy Ndombele, who had been tracked by a plethora of big clubs across Europe, sealed a switch to Spurs for a fee of up to £65million in what represented a real coup for the Premier League side.

It smashed the previous record transfer completed by chairman Daniel Levy of £42 million for defender Davinson Sanchez from Ajax back in 2017.

Given Ndombele's standing in the game, despite his tender age, Tottenham had made a statement signing, but patience has been urged with the Frenchman.

As captain for Tottenham and the national team Hugo Lloris knows the former Lyon man well and is excited by his potential, but also aware he will need time to settle.

Lloris said: "He needs to find his place, in a new team and in a new country and a new city, but I think he has done quite well in pre-season.

"He is a modern midfielder, a proper box-to-box midfielder and I think he is going to improve with the players around him and the coaching staff and he is going to bring all his talent that we know."

Ndombele made an impression in his first outing for Spurs as a substitute against Juventus when he played through Lucas Moura for a goal.

It will take him time to get up to speed with the Premier League, although he did produce a great display away to Manchester City in the Champions League group stage for Lyon last season.

Helping him every step of the way will be Lloris and Ndombele's 'older brother' Moussa Sissoko, who has quickly struck up a bond with the midfielder.

Tottenham's captain said: "Yes we are here to help him and to make things easier for him. He is not comfortable with English at the moment, but for sure he will improve very quickly.

"I think he has done very good things since the start of pre-season. For sure he will help the team to improve and he is going to fight to win his place and to perform well for Tottenham and for the national team."

While excitement builds around what Ndombele can do this term, fans wanting to watch Clarke will have to do so at Elland Road.

The teenager has returned to Leeds United for the season, on loan, but that might be best in the long run for his development.