Moussa Sissoko considers Tottenham team-mate Harry Winks to be of “the same profile” as Steven Gerrard, with Spurs and England hoping to see that potential fulfilled.
A 22-year-old talent in north London enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2016-17 as he nailed down a regular role for Spurs.
Senior international recognition arrived in the following campaign, with Winks being tipped to reach the very top of the game.
Fitness issues have held him back since then, but the highly-rated midfielder is back in favour for club and country, and earning comparisons to an iconic former England and Liverpool captain.
“At our place, there is little Harry Winks,” Tottenham winger Sissoko told Foot Mercato on the exciting talents emerging in English football.
“He is a very good player who reminds me of Steven Gerrard. I think he has the same profile.
“He is evolving. From day to day, we see him evolve, progress. He is confident. He is in the England team so that proves that he is a quality player. He is the young player that will explode in the years to come.”
Sissoko will be hoping to stick around at Spurs and witness Winks’ ongoing development, with the France international having overcome a testing start to his time in north London to become a key man for Mauricio Pochettino.
“I feel good in Tottenham. I am well settled,” he added after generating plenty of transfer talk.
“Everything's going well for me. I am with my little family. They feel good about it. I think that’s the most important thing.
“You can tell me that each transfer window you hear my name, but I have always been good in my head. There will always be noises from outside but when you are solid in your head, when you know what you want and where you want to go, there is no need to worry about the future.”
Getty ImagesSissoko admits that he would “not be against” a return to Ligue 1 at some stage, having come through the ranks at Toulouse, but he is contracted to Tottenham until 2021.
Pressed on whether he expects to see out that deal, the 29-year-old said: “If I say yes, I would be lying. If I say no, I would be lying too because in football everything goes fast.
“I can say no and then tomorrow something happens, the club wants to sell me or I want to leave. It's hard to answer that question. I live from day to day. For the moment.
“I feel good and it is the most important thing. I try to keep moving forward and growing. We'll see what happens in the future. But for now, I do not have the head elsewhere.”
He added: “I do not know if I will go back to France or not. Will anyone want me in France? That's the question. I do not know.
“I feel good in England. Since I started playing football, I always said that I hoped to play in England because it is the championship that corresponds most to my qualities, and I do not think I was wrong.
“We'll see what happens later. I feel good and I hope to stay here for a very long time.”