Could well be true, he is pretty brutal when it comes to football and money http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/may/01/benoit-assou-ekotto-tottenham-hotspur
Long term competition with Gibbs for England LB I'd say, I hope he makes LB his own position and doesn't spend years trying to decide whether he is better in midfield or not.
I like him in LB, we've needed a LB for ages, and if we sign him that's exactly where he should play.