Reported Spurs target Fabian Delph signs a new contract with Aston Villa

This is not the type of transfer news most Tottenham supporters are seeking, but BBC Sport is reporting that Fabian Delph has signed a four and a half year contract extension at Aston Villa. Given the rhetoric coming from all sides prior to this deal, this news is rather surprising. So surprising that even Paul Lambert weighs in on the unexpected nature of this development.

Delph was never going to excite the supporter base in the manner of an Adrien Rabiot, but he is just good enough, just positive enough, that his inclusion to the Spurs setup could wake up our often sleepy midfield pairings. It seems to be a moot point wondering now.

In the meantime, Spurs are left with a sporadically functioning midfield. There is hope that Nabil Bentaleb, still away at the African Cup of Nations with Algeria sitting precariously second in their group, could be back sooner than later, but as sure as the sun rises in the east, Tottenham look to be doing the transfer business late.