Jose Mourinho looks set to make an overhaul at Tottenham for next season.
Tottenham knew what they were getting themselves into when they hired Jose Mourinho to replace Mauricio Pochettino. They knew that aside from getting someone with an impressive CV, they were also getting someone who brought a lot of headaches.
However, they might not have known those headaches would come so soon.
It has not taken long for Mourinho to come out and criticize his own players. Tanguy Ndombele was the first player to draw his ire and it’s snowballed ever since.
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Given his recent track record then, it should come as no surprise that Mourinho has already handed Spurs a wish list of players he wants the club to sign for next season.
According to Diario AS, Mourinho wants to add at least six players with Real Madrid defender Eder Militao and Valenica midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia high on his list.
Mourinho’s struggled to field a consistent midfield and does not look to be sold on the likes of Lo Celso and the aforementioned Ndombele. Kondogbia would bring stability in central midfield and has impressed with since returning to Spain after a brief stint with Inter Milan.
But the more interesting name on the list if Militao. The Brazilian defender just arrived to Real Madrid this past season after the club spent €50 million to sign him from Porto.
Militao was supposed to be the heir apparent in central defense and the start of a transition period. Under Zinedine Zidane, however, he hasn’t featured much and has been the subject of criticism when he has played, most recently in their loss to Betis.
Jan Vertonghen appears to be on his way out and Tottenham are going to need to find a replacement. Militao would be a more difficult signing than Kondogbia as Madrid are unlikely to sell or demand a lot if they were.
The other names on the list include Norwich’s Jamal Lewis, Nice’s Yousel Atal and RB Leipzig’s Marcel Sabitzer.
Spurs are not a team known for splashing the cash as evident during Pochettino’s tenure. Jose Mourinho, however, is a manager who needs his club to spend if he is to be successful.
Whether or not Daniel Levy opens his chequebook to accommodate Mourinho is another question. He spent quite a bit to get Mourinho in the first place. But if Levy decides not to, he’s risking antagonizing his manager even more. Mourinho is not shy about publicly airing his grievances.
Spurs currently sit eighth in the Premier League and have been knocked out of the Champions League by RB Leipzig. It is clear Mourinho believes if Spurs are to improve, he’s going to need an almost entirely new team next season.