Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has ordered the club’s transfer chief, Daniel Levy, to complete the €65million summer signing of centre-back Dayot Upamecano, according to reports.
Spurs have strengthened in midfield and attack in the past 12 months with the likes of Giovani Lo Celso and Steven Bergwijn both moving to North London, but defence remains an issue.
Youngster Japhet Tanganga has risen to prominence this season but Jan Vertonghen, 32, is expected to depart at the end of the season, leaving Toby Alderweireld, Juan Foyth and Davinson Sanchez as other options at the back.
According to Spanish news outlet Don Balon, Mourinho has identified RB Leipzig’s Upamecano as a “priority” summer signing, one that could help reinvigorate his side’s defence.
The 21-year-old has featured in 19 of his side’s 23 Bundesliga games to date but the source claims that Willi Orban and Ibrahima Konate – both currently out injured – are preferred options for Leipzig head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
What’s more, it is claimed that Upamecano’s future is the subject of intense speculation, with the player having already confirmed that there is interest from across Europe in his signature.
Don Balon says that Barcelona and Real Madrid have both have bids of below €50million rejected, adding that Mourinho is dead set on signing Upamecano and that the Portuguese will not back down in the hunt for his top target.
However, with Spanish giants Barca and Real expected to come back in for the defender, the clock is ticking to submit a healthy proposal that will tempt Leipzig to sell up.
Mourinho reportedly believes Upamecano fits into the mould of Raphael Varane, who the manager worked with while in Madrid.
In other news, former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood has launched an attack on Mourinho’s tactics which led to Spurs’ 2-1 defeat to Chelsea last weekend.
Tottenham went 2-0 down before Antonio Rudiger’s own goal deep into the second half and Sherwood did not hold back in his assessment of Mourinho’s set up.
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