Published: 30 April, 2015
by DAN CARRIER

MIDFIELDER Nabil Bentaleb has asked Spurs to hand him a new long-term contract to reflect the significant contribution he has made this season. 

The 20-year-old Algerian international has been one of the first names on manager Mauricio Pochettino’s team-sheet this term, only missing matches when he was away playing for his country in the African Cup of Nations. 

Bentaleb’s current deal lasts until 2017, but he made it clear this week that he sees his future at the club lasting a lot longer than that. “I like the club, I like the philosophy of the coaches. I feel very good here and hopefully we will sort something out very soon,” he said. 

“Could it be before the end of the season? Yes, why not? We will speak to the people concerned. I’m really happy here and people here are happy with me.” 

His meteoric rise at Tottenham mirrors that of other young players – no more so than Harry Kane, whose 30-goal season was marked this week when he scooped the PFA Young Player-of-the-Year gong. 

Meanwhile Alex Pritchard, on loan at Championship side Brentford, was named in the PFA Championship Side-of-the-Year. The midfielder is expected to return to White Hart Lane and stake a claim for a place in the first team squad in the summer. 

Another Spurs player plying his trade elsewhere, Dele Alli, won the Football League Young Player-of-the-Year Award for his stand-out season at MK Dons.