Taarabt sure of Spurs deal

He joined in January from Ligue 1 side Lens and has been praised by Spurs boss Martin Jol, leading many to speculate that staying at White Hart Lane is a formality.

"I am not on loan, I have signed for five years but the contract will be official when I am 18 years of age," he told French radio. "It is a nice story for me. I belong to Spurs. I feel very good, this club trusts youngsters and there are other French players in Pascal Chimbonda and Steed Malbranque, while Didier Zokora and Teemu Tainio speak French."

"I asked Lens to play, but they told me I was too young. Spurs representatives told me I would regularly play with them, so I immediately agreed to move. They love French people there.

"In England you have to attack for the fans. Even if you lead 3-1 at home, you add more strikers, whereas in France you replace strikers with defenders."