Seemingly plagued by injuries since the Portuguese manager’s arrival at the club, Tottenham’s form under José Mourinho has been a bit up and down.
Harry Kane being out for a lengthy period of time certainly didn’t help, which is why the club were after a new striker in January.
Names like Christian Benteke or Islam Slimani were mentioned, but no one came in.
To avoid finding himself in this situation again, Mourinho has one particular player in mind, according to Foot Mercato, and that’s Raúl Jiménez.
The Wolves striker has been in fine form under Nuno Espírito Santo at Molineux, and attracted many suitors at big clubs in the Premier League, with the Special One ‘particularly appreciating’ what the Mexico international has to offer.
In fact, the forward’s entourage has ‘already been contacted’ in order to ‘let them know of Tottenham’s interest and ask him to patiently wait until the season starts again’.
At that point, Spurs will know how much money they should have, and Foot Mercato claim that Mourinho himself has told those close to Jiménez that ‘should they have a sufficient budget’, the Mexican would be ‘the priority’ to bolster the attack.
On top of all this, Tottenham are also after a new centre-back, as they will, in all likelihood, lose Jan Vertonghen, meaning someone else will have to come in, and Foot Mercato, in the same article, explain the man for the job is Issa Diop.
A big fan of the French defender from back in his days as Manchester United manager, Mourinho has highlighted the 23-year-old as a target.
The interest is there, say Foot Mercato, made obvious through ‘constant exchanges and contacts with his entourage’, but no offer has been made yet.
As for Diop, the centre-back ‘isn’t impervious’ to Spurs’ interest, and has allegedly already contacted Serge Aurier to know more about the north London club.
Foot Mercato reckon that it would take around €60m to convince West Ham to let go of their defensive star, having originally paid Toulouse €25m.
