Gossip: Mourinho wants Zlatan at Spurs; Poch’s next job

Ian Watson

JOSE WANTS IBRA AT SPURS
Day three of the Jose Mourinho era at Tottenham and we’re now at the stage where Spurs are being linked with anyone and everyone who has played for the manager before.

On the second day, the talk was of a move for Nemanja Matic. He’s out of favour at Man Utd and very much up for grabs in January, with Atletico Madrid and AC Milan also sniffing. Today, though, offers Spurs fans a rather more exciting name from Mourinho’s past.

The Telegraph reckons the new head coach is trying to hijack AC Milan’s move for Zlatan Ibrahimovic in time to sign the Swedish veteran next month. Ibra is available at the end of his contract at LA Galaxy, where he moved after playing for Mourinho at Man Utd. Spurs haven’t a like-for-like replacement for Harry Kane and 38-year-old Zlatan might fancy bringing down the curtain on his ridiculous career with Jose at White Hart Lane.

 

POCH’S EYED BY EUROPE’S BIGGEST CLUBS
What of Mourinho’s predecessor? It looks like Mauricio Pochettino will be just fine…

The sacked Spurs boss is said to be a primary candidate for the Bayern Munich hot seat, which is currently being kept warm by Hansi Flick. That is the good word according to Sky Sports, which also claims Real Madrid are keeping an eye on Pochettino with a view to next summer.

The Sun also names Bayern Munich as Pochettino’s possible next employer, as well as Barcelona. Pochettino is apparently retreating to his house in Spain after being axed by Spurs, but it would mean a U-turn if he was to replace Ernesto Valverde at the Nou Camp.

In 2017, Pochettino said:  “I am an Espanyol supporter. I don’t think I need to speak too much. It’s like if one day Daniel Levy sacked me – in a few years it would be impossible for me to manage Arsenal.”

And we all know that people in football never go back on their word.

 

AND THE REST
Leicester have opened contract talks with James Maddison… Lucas Torreira won’t rule out an Arsenal exit… Villa, West Ham and Sheffield United are keen on Nicolas Gaitan, whose contract at Chicago Fire expires next month.