Jose Mourinho’s transfer targets: Gareth Bale, Ruben Dias, Paulo Dybala, Bruno Fernandes, Kalidou Koulibaly

Jose Mourinho is back in the Premier League and so is the speculation that follows the “Special One” wherever he goes.

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.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

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...

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.

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”.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

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.

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.

Today’s back pages

New Spurs boss Jose Mourinho insists Harry Kane must stay

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––