This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Jose Mourinho has hit the ground running since moving to Tottenham, and it has produced something of a welcome change to his usual defensive philosophy.
In his first five matches as manager of the Lilywhites, he has won four games, with his team scoring 16 goals since his arrival.
The loss to his former club Manchester United will have no doubt frustrated him, but the players appear to be responding to him after he replaced Mauricio Pochettino as boss.
However, the team’s defensive woes will not please him. They may have kept a clean sheet against Burnley, but that only came after they conceded at least two goals in each of the previous four matches. It is very much a contrast to his normal style – don’t forget that this is the man who oversaw the best defence in Premier League history in 2004/05 at Chelsea.
It is currently an uncertain time at centre-back for Spurs. Davinson Sanchez is tied down to a long-term contract, but the same cannot be said for both Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, both of whom started the Champions League final against Liverpool last season.
Their deals run out next summer, meaning that Mourinho could be without two top-class centre-backs within less than a year of him taking the job. Not only that, it would leave just two players in the position, with Juan Foyth the only other option.
As such, a centre-back will surely be at the forefront of the Portuguese manager’s transfer plans. And it is being said that Napoli man Kalidou Koulibaly is on his radar, with his purchase even being “demanded” by the 56-year-old, per Eldesmarque.
The Italian outfit are said to want €100m (£84m) for his services, which would represent a significant outlay for a club whose record signing is £53.8m. However, should Daniel Levy be able to take him to north London, it would be a statement of intent from Tottenham.
The Senegal international is a colossus, and has been a star for the Serie A team. Since arriving at Napoli, he has averaged a WhoScored rating of at least seven in each campaign, and he has been a hard man to beat. He has picked up an average of two tackles per match in all but one Serie A season, for example.
It is no surprise that Real Madrid are also looking at him. Not just that, Liverpool and Manchester United are amongst the other teams that have been linked with a move for him.
His displays over the past 12 months also earned him 24th place in the Ballon d’Or rankings. Imagine if Tottenham could get their hands on a player of his undoubted quality, beating their rivals to his signature. It would show that Mourinho’s arrival is not just a flash in the plan – Spurs actually do mean business.
Spurs die-hards are getting 70% on this Ultimate Tottenham Quiz. Can you beat them?
With two experienced defenders such as the Belgian duo potentially departing, the 28-year-old would be exactly what the doctor ordered. Whilst Spurs may be impressing offensively up until now, Mourinho is likely to want to shore up his defence, and Koulibaly would be able to have a big say in that.
Meanwhile, Tottenham fans react to one man’s latest performance.
