Steffen Freund backs Lewis Holtby to be a hit in the Premier League as Spurs eye swoop for Schalke star

Tottenham assistant manager Steffen Freund believes Lewis Holtby would be a big hit in the Premier League.

Holtby, who has an English father but is a full Germany international, will leave Schalke in the summer when his contract expires and is understood to favour a move to England.

The 22-year-old is being linked with Spurs, as well as Arsenal, and, Freund has no doubt he will prove a bargain for whichever club he ends up at, having seen his talent first hand when working as a youth coach with the German national side.

"For Lewis it will not be a problem," Freund said. "He is half-English, he loves the Premier League.

"He is captain of the Under-21s for Germany, he will lead the team at the European Championship in Israel.

"He is out of contract... I don't have to say any more!

"I worked for under-16s and under-17s for the last three years, that is why I don't know him really well but what I can say is that he is a really good player."