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Tottenham identify French starlet as their January transfer priority

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Willian da Silva of Chelsea (L) plays against Boubakary Soumare of Lille (R) during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Chelsea FC and Lille OSC at Stamford Bridge on December 10, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Willian da Silva of Chelsea (L) plays against Boubakary Soumare of Lille (R) during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Chelsea FC and Lille OSC at Stamford Bridge on December 10, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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Jose Mourinho is ready to make big changes at Tottenham this month. Purchasing this French starlet could help reshape Spurs’ ailing midfield.

Revamping the Tottenham midfield is one of Jose Mourinho’s biggest priorities. Predictably, the Portuguese manager can’t wait to get started. That’s why Spurs have already lodged a bid for a young Frenchman they believe has the potential to become a Premier League star.

According to L’Equipe, Spurs have moved quickly to make a formal bid for 20-year-old midfielder Boubakary Soumare. His solid performance in the midfield for Lille this season have earned him a number of admirers throughout Europe. Mourinho’s right-hand man at Tottenham, Joao Sacramento is particularly fond of the young Frenchman.

Lille certainly don’t want to lose such a bright, young talent, but they lack the financial might to resist a big offer. It’s unclear just how much Tottenham bid, but it could cost Daniel Levy upwards of £40 million to get this deal done. Spurs fans will understand that their club certainly haven’t opened the bidding anywhere near that figure.

The question Mourinho needs to ask is whether or not Soumare is ready to make an instant impact in the Premier League. He need look no further than to the trials and tribulations of Tanguy Ndombele in North London to see how a young, French player might lose his way in England. Presumably, Mourinho’s well-placed sources have given him confidence that Soumare has the talent and mental approach to succeed immediately. Otherwise, there’s little reason for Tottenham to make him the object of their first January transfer bid.

There’s also a significant possibility that Tottenham will issue a number of bids early in the window with the understanding that the offers will only be good for a limited time. That’s not been a strategy used in the past by Spurs, but it is a policy that works well for a manager like Mourinho. He realizes he needs to add instant quality to his squad. He may be looking for upgrades rather than perfection.

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Nonetheless, it’s clear that Tottenham retain a keen interest in Soumare. He’s a player Spurs fans should watch very closely in the coming days. He could be the bedrock of Mourinho’s new midfield.

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