Gossip: Mourinho to raid Man United, Real Madrid, Benfica

Matt Stead
Gareth-Bale-Jose-Mourinho-Football365

BALE OUT
Like ships that pass in the night, Jose Mourinho has never managed Gareth Bale. Not at Real Madrid, where he left in the same summer the Welshman joined. Not at Manchester United, where he was courted but never captured. Not at Tottenham…until now?

Spanish newspaper AS float the idea of Bale returning to north London as ‘a treat of Mourinho’, who ‘intends to make him return to London next summer’.

The new manager wishes to ‘revitalise’ a squad that he has vocally and publicly praised since his appointment. He believes the ‘devalued’ Bale could be a perfect option, although AS state unequivocally that a January transfer will not happen. So we wait.

 

AUTOMATIC, SYSTEMATIC, HYDROMATIC
The Independent go into rather more detail on Mourinho’s transfer plans. Miguel Delaney says the Portuguese ‘does want to sign previous Spurs target Bruno Fernandes, as well as Benfica’s Ruben Dias’. Both are Jorge Mendes clients, so yeah.

Nemanja Matic is also said to have been ‘specifically name-checked’ by Mourinho in a meeting with Daniel Levy. On which note…

 

CHRISTMAS TRIO
Over at the Daily Mirror, Darren Lewis says Tottenham’s ‘contract rebels’ will reconsider their futures with Mauricio Pochettino no longer at the helm.

Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen all have deals that expire at the end of the season, and Pochettino has dropped each from his first-team squad at times throughout this and previous seasons. But all three are said to be ‘intrigued by the prospect of working with Mourinho’.

They are ‘open-minded’ with regards to whether they will stay or leave. But will Mourinho drape his arm around them for a photo as they sign the contract?

The Mirror also reiterate that Fernandes remains a Spurs target, while dropping in the claim that a move for Paulo Dybala may be ‘resurrected’ and ‘could easily be relaunched’.

Hurrah for image rights shenanigans.

 

KANE UNABLE
Wednesday brought news of Harry Kane potentially being sold for £200m to fund all of this. The Daily Mail say not so.

Mourinho has outlined to Levy that Kane ‘cannot be sold under any circumstances’. Well alright.

 

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY, MONEY, MONEY
That report contains the following line:

‘Money will be made available to Mourinho for signings in January’

We will just leave this, from David Hytner in The Guardian, here:

‘José Mourinho has been told that he will have to work with Tottenham’s existing squad as there is no money for an overhaul in January.’

 

AND THE REST
Barcelona and Bayern Munich are ready to make a move for Pochettino… Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 30, has still not renewed his contract with Arsenal because he is waiting on Barcelona… Manchester United are considering a January move for Roma’s 33-year-old Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko… England midfielder James Maddison, 22, is considering signing a new contract with Leicester despite strong interest from Manchester United… Arsenal have stepped up their interest in Red Bull Salzburg forward Erling Haaland, 19, after inviting the striker’s father, former Leeds midfielder Alf-Inge Haaland, to visit their training ground… Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is intent on signing Norway international Haaland… Inter Milan’s planned move for Chelsea and France forward Olivier Giroud, 33, could be scuppered by the player’s demands… Aston Villa want to sign a forward in January, are monitoring targets in Italy, Spain and France, and have been linked with Rangers and Colombia striker Alfredo Morelos, 23… Everton will have the chance to sign AC Milan and Poland striker Krzysztof Piatek, 24, in a swap deal that would see Toffees’ Italian forward Moise Kean, 19, go to Milan.

If you enjoyed this, feel free to give us some love in the the FSA awards. Head here to vote…