Tottenham equalled their transfer record to sign Moussa Sissoko after Mauricio Pochettino made it clear the Newcastle player was the man he really wanted.

Sissoko was valued at £30million and Tottenham finally agreed to meet that price, although the structure of the payments means Newcastle would receive the full fee — in five instalments of £6m — only if he stays for the duration of his five-year contract.

Sissoko is now 27 and it is impossible to know whether he will still be a Spurs player in 2021.

But Tottenham insist they agreed to meet Newcastle’s asking price, allowing them to fend off interest from Everton.

For much of deadline day, Spurs were expecting to sign only two players: Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, the former Marseille winger who had been training with the club, and goalkeeper Pau Lopez, who has arrived on loan from Espanyol.

There was an initial bid of close to £16m for Sissoko but when that was rejected out of hand by Newcastle, it appeared there would be stalemate.

There seemed little chance of Newcastle reducing the asking price, nor of Spurs making a dramatically improved offer.

But Pochettino — who spoke of the need to add pacy, attacking players to his squad — coveted Sissoko, who played superbly at White Hart Lane last season, when Newcastle took a surprise 2-1 win.

With the manager’s endorsement, Tottenham acted swiftly when Everton’s bid for Sissoko was accepted late in the afternoon.

Sissoko had been given permission to leave the France squad to conclude the transfer, which matches the amount Spurs paid to buy Erik Lamela from Roma in 2013.

The player arrived in London as negotiations between Newcastle and interested clubs continued, so it was straightforward to undergo a Tottenham medical and finalise terms, believed to be close to £80,000 per week.

He may make his debut when Tottenham travel to Stoke on September 10.

Unlike other players who might have been available on deadline day, Sissoko has substantial Premier League experience after joining Newcastle from Toulouse in 2013.

There were suggestions Spurs had been alerted that Max Meyer, the Schalke player, might be available for close to £30m.

In Pictures: Spurs unveil Georges-Kevin Nkoudou 10 show all In Pictures: Spurs unveil Georges-Kevin Nkoudou 1/10 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 2/10 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 3/10 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 4/10 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 5/10 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 6/10 7/10 8/10 9/10 10/10 1/10 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 2/10 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 3/10 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 4/10 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 5/10 Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I 6/10 7/10 8/10 9/10 10/10

Similar noises were made about Nabil Fekir, the Lyon playmaker, and Ante Coric, of Dinamo Zagreb. A loan deal for Isco, the Real Madrid playmaker, was attractive but never really on the cards.

Yet all would need time to adapt to English football, like new goalkeeper Lopez — and Tottenham do not have as much time as they would like.

Most of the Premier League’s highest-profile teams have spent a great deal of money over the summer. Spurs finished ahead of both Manchester City and Manchester United last season but since then, those clubs have appointed Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho respectively as managers and spent over £300m on new players. Chelsea have also sought to upgrade under Antonio Conte.

Tottenham’s first XI is strong and they did good business earlier in the summer, signing midfielder Victor Wanyama from Southampton and Holland forward Vincent Janssen from AZ Alkmaar.

But with Tottenham returning to the Champions League, Pochettino believed they needed something extra. He spoke admiringly after the 1-1 draw with Liverpool of Sadio Mane, whose pace had flustered Tottenham.

In delivering Sissoko, Levy has given his manager what he wanted — and departed from a transfer policy that appeared set in stone. There have been exceptions but during his 15 years as Tottenham chairman, Levy has preferred to buy players under 25, whose value will increase.

Sissoko’s age — he turned 27 two weeks ago — caused Levy to think twice, especially given the asking price. Yet Levy, often heavily criticised, has a fiendishly difficult task.

He has to finance the construction of a new stadium, which Spurs hope to occupy from summer 2018. The estimated cost is £400m although City sources believe that figure could reach £650m.

Paying for it would be easier if Spurs qualify regularly for the Champions League. The best chance of playing in that tournament every season is to continue to buy established players on high wages. But what happens if that backfires?

You are left with a high wage bill and players in their mid- to late-twenties whose value is falling. Hardly the ideal circumstances in which to keep a club in good financial health — as Tottenham have always been under Levy. That is why Levy deserves credit for making an exception and signing Sissoko.

