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Jose Mourinho’s transfer targets: Gareth Bale, Ruben Dias, Paulo Dybala, Bruno Fernandes, Kalidou Koulibaly
A look at the players who are rumoured to be on the Special One’s shopping list as he aims to reshape Spurs
After he was confirmed as Mauricio Pochettino’s replacement, the media is full of rumours as to who the new Tottenham manager will look to bring into the club in a few weeks when the January transfer window opens.
It’s not just bringing in new players that Mourinho must focus on in his new job.
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The newspapers also report that keeping Harry Kane is key to his, and the club’s, fortunes.
Here are some of the names being thrown about as potential new men for Mourinho and Spurs...
(Image credit: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)
Gareth Bale
According to the Daily Express, Bale is likely to leave Spain in January and Mourinho is quietly confident he can finally get his hands on the Real Madrid star.
Having angered Real on Tuesday night by posing with a Wales flag on which were written the words “Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order”, Bale’s days at the Bernabeu are surely numbered and his return to north London would be a statement of intent by Mourinho.
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The Express says the Portuguese tried without luck to sign Bale when he was managing Manchester United, and the paper quotes Spanish newspaper AS in claiming that “Mourinho has already pinpointed former Spurs man Bale as his number one target”.
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Ruben Dias
The Portuguese defender is said to be a favourite of his compatriot, and Mourinho is apparently keen to strengthen what he considers a shaky Spurs defence.
The 22-year-old shares the same agent as Mourinho, Jorge Mendes, and according to the Independent, that could be crucial in luring Dias from Benfica.
(Image credit: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty)
Paulo Dybala
The Sun believes that Mourinho will soon be fielding a Spurs team “deploying a new-look line-up”, and that will include Paulo Dybala up front.
Spurs tried to entice the Argentine forward over the summer but baulked at Juventus’s transfer fee. However, the Sun says the Special One has earmarked Dybala as the man to replace Christian Eriksen, who looks certain to quit the club on a free transfer next year.
Bruno Fernandes and Kalidou Koulibaly
Two other players on Mourinho’s shopping list, says The Sun, are Sporting Lisbon central midfielder Bruno Fernandes and Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
Tottenham have already been linked with the 25-year-old Fernandes, while Mourinho is believed to have made an unsuccessful attempt to sign Koulibaly when he was managing Man Utd.
His admiration for the Senegal stopper remains and he will look to bring him in for Toby Alderweireld, who is expected to quit at the end of the season.
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