Sitting at the top of the table in December, things look good for Jose Mourinho right now, but who does he have on Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer wishlist?
Tottenham’s Hotspur’s Transfer Wishlist For January and Summer 2021
Targets Will Be Identified Despite Excellent Start
When a team is performing well as Tottenham are right now, it can be difficult to see where a team needs to strengthen. Jose Mourinho’s men have the best defence in the Premier League and two strikers in Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min that cannot stop scoring and assisting each other. Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg has been bossing the midfield receiving plaudits from his manager and pundits. Jose Mourinho is not a man to rest on his laurels though, and will no doubt already have a wishlist drawn up.
Competition for Hojbjerg
One of the criticisms of former manager Mauricio Pochettino was the lack of depth in his squad. For example, Christian Eriksen rarely missed a game for the club, even if his form dipped, because there just weren’t the options to replace him. Hojbjerg has been a star man in Tottenham’s rise to the top of the table, but if he gets injured, there is no one similar to bring in. Harry Winks has been inconsistent and Dele Alli is not a ball winner.
As a result, one possibility for Mourinho is AC Milan midfielder, Franck Kessie. The player is down to his last 18 months of his contract and could be available for £45 million, according to Calciomercato.
Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff
Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff is another potential midfield reinforcement for Spurs, according to Bobby Vincent of Football.London. At just 23, he has struggled in the North East due to problems with his knee and game time being limited.
One reason that Longstaff is being mentioned in the same breath as Tottenham Hotspur is due to his new agent – Pini Zahavi – who was highly influential in Spurs’ appointment of Jose Mourinho in 2019. He is a bustling midfielder who could prove to be a good backup for Hojbjerg, but he would again face the issue of how much game time he would get.
Jack Grealish Rumours Not Going Away
Tottenham have been linked with Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish for the past two years. In 2018, a deal was said to have been very close, but it never materialised.
Subsequently, Grealish went on to sign a new deal with Villa, but rumours persist about a move away from the Midlands club, and he could potentially still be on Mourinho’s list of targets. If he is, then there is one big issue in the way of any potential move, as Villa now value their prized asset at £100 million. Grealish would suit a Jose Mourinho team as he works hard, is strong on and off the ball and chips in with goals from midfield. It is still a possibility, although should Spurs move for the England international, that would likely finally confirm the departure of Dele Alli.
Odds
With January fast approaching, there will be plenty of rumours circulating when it comes to transfers. Betting odds will change and give some idea as to who might be going where, although betting companies have also struggled during the pandemic.
The Premier League is a hotspot for gambling brands, and while many have shied away with 2020 proving difficult for betting companies to thrive in, Q4 has seen a buck in the trend, with big players even opening new sportsbooks in the UK market – most notably PartyCasino – who have launched both virtual sports and are releasing a formal sportsbook soon.
It is worth keeping your eyes on these sportsbooks as the transfer season nears and to see if Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer wishlist bears fruition in 2021.
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