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Following an abysmal start to the Premier League campaign, Tottenham Hotspur parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino on Wednesday. To replace him, Spurs appointed Portuguese tactician Jose Mourinho as their new manager on a 3-year deal.
The ex-Manchester United manager has been unemployed for almost a year and will make his PL return with the Lillywhites. Despite his recent struggles, Mourinho remains one of the best managers in world football at the moment and is likely to bring success to the North London club.
Although Mourinho has inherited one of the best squads in the Premier League, it is likely that the Portuguese will be active in the January transfer window to further bolster the squad in order to push for a Champions League place next season. Here are three players we believe Mourinho will target in January:
Also read: 3 Reasons Why Jose Mourinho will succeed at Tottenham Hotspur
#3 Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes was one of the most sought-after players during the summer transfer window. The Portuguese enjoyed a stellar campaign with Sporting Lisbon last season in which he managed an incredible tally of 32 goals and provided another 18 assists across all competitions.
The 24-year-old midfielder seemed destined to move to Manchester United in the summer. However, that move never materialised as the Red Devils weren't as interested in the player as the media had portrayed. Tottenham, on the other hand, showed genuine interest in bringing the player to North London but were unable to complete the move.
With Christian Eriksen likely to leave Spurs in January, Mourinho might look to bring in a replacement and Fernandes seems like the perfect candidate. The 24-year-old will not only add creativity to the Lilywhites but would also chip in with important goals when needed.
It looks like a deal Spurs can get over the line in the January transfer window, given that Sporting Lisbon have been open to selling their talisman.
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#2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been one of the most lethal marksmen in world football for over a decade now. Even at 37 years of age, the Swedish striker just cannot stop scoring and managed 31 goals in 31 appearances for LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer this season. The forward is currently a free agent following the completion of his 2-year contract with LA Galaxy and is looking for a return to Europe.
Ibrahimovic has been one of Mourinho's most trusted generals and it wouldn't surprise us a bit if the Portuguese tactician brings the Swedish hitman to Tottenham in January. Mourinho brought the striker with him at Manchester United to add experience and a winning mentality to the dressing room and could probably do the same at Spurs, who are not only a player short in the centre-forward position but also lacks a player of his pedigree.
Also read: 5 players who could benefit from Jose Mourinho's arrival at Tottenham
#1 Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale looked primed to move away from Real Madrid in the summer after Zinedine Zidane made it clear that the Welshman wasn't part of his plans. However, the 30-year-old to remained at the Santiago Bernabeu past the summer transfer window, although it looks likely that he might not be in the Spanish capital by the end of the winter transfer window.
Bale, who hasn't been a popular figure in Madrid, seems to have further fractured his relationship with the Los Blancos faithful following his controversial celebrations after Wales qualified for the Euros. The winger also hasn't featured for his club since the game against Granada.
Mourinho has been a huge admirer of the 30-year-old and tried to sign him during his time at Manchester United but couldn't get the deal over the line at that juncture, owing to certain constraints. However, things seemed to have changed now and the Portuguese tactician might find it easier to bring the former Tottenham man to North London.
