Tottenham expected to make £16m from loan star this summer

Tottenham are confident Schalke will make Nabil Bentaleb’s loan switch permanent at the end of the season in a deal worth £16m, reports The London Evening Standard.

Bentaleb, 22, joined Schalke on an initial season-long loan deal at the start of the campaign after falling down the pecking order under Mauricio Pochettino last season.

The Algeria international’s outing in Schalke’s 1-1 draw with Cologne at the weekend reportedly triggered a clause in Bentaleb’s loan deal that means Schalke now have to complete a deal to sign the midfielder outright at the end of the season.

Bentaleb, who missed the start of the year due to the Africa Cup of Nations, has played a direct hand in more goals than any other Schalke player in the Bundesliga this season (8), an impressive feat when you consider he established himself as a defensive midfielder at Tottenham.

For more stats on Nabil Bentaleb, click here to visit his WhoScored player page