TOTTENHAM have pulled off a sensational double swoop from Real Madrid as they look to arrest their slide under Jose Mourinho.
The Lilywhites slumped to a limp 1-0 home defeat to Everton last week, with Mourinho labelling his players lazy after the match.
And in the wake of wide disappointment from fans, chairman Daniel Levy has pulled off the Hollywood signing of the summer… by beating Manchester United to signing Gareth Bale in a £20million loan deal.
Levy, 58, also raided Madrid for Bale’s team-mate Sergio Reguilon after failed negotiations with Man United over a £20m switch, as SunSport told you last week.
With the star pair arriving in North London from under the Red Devils’ noses Mourinho, 57, will be under pressure to deliver a quick turnaround.
Particularly having also already secured a number of his targets in Matt Doherty, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Joe Hart.
Despite the latter’s signing, Hugo Lloris will obviously keep the gloves as Tottenham’s skipper and undisputed No1.
Serge Aurier remains at the club despite having been linked with Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan – but Doherty will be Mourinho’s first choice after arriving for £15m from Wolves.
Reguilon will slot in at left-back, with Danny Rose out in the cold, and offering a more dynamic option than Ben Davies.
There could still be a Jan Vertonghen-shaped hole next to stalwart Toby Alderweireld – although Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez will likely take turns trying to fill it.
Mourinho could deploy a 4-3-3 formation – with Moussa Sissoko still a starter on the right of the middle three.
But many fans will hope that record-signing Tanguy Ndombele can fulfil his undoubted potential and wrestle that position from his compatriot.
The £15m buy from Southampton Hojbjerg will be the most defensive of the trio – while last season’s best player Giovani Lo Celso will add thrust to the left side when he returns from injury.
Son Heung-min has been a superstar for Spurs even when they’ve otherwise been poor, and will add his usual verve and goal threat to the left of Harry Kane upfront.
And then Bale, 31, will most likely play to Kane’s right, returning to the club for whom he scored 26 goals in his final season – now more than seven years ago.
