Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho is adamant that he does not want a striker who is not ready to compete with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min for a starting berth.
Spurs have already brought in midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, right-back Matt Doherty and goalkeeper Joe Hart ahead of Mourinho’s first full season in charge, but a new forward remains on their wish-list.
Kane and Beta are two of the first names on the team sheet for Tottenham/Harriet Lander/Copa/Getty Images.
However, striker recruitment has so far proved difficult, with a possible lack of game time a concern for potential strikers due to Kane’s status at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Red Bull Salzburg’s Petson Dika was one of a handful of players on Spurs’ list of potential targets, but his agent has informed the club that he is not interested in moving to north London just to stay under Kane. .
In typical Mourinho style, the Spurs boss insisted the right striker would rise to the challenge of competing with his main men, and if he couldn’t find someone with that attitude he would do without.
“The subject is not convincing me that the striker is convincing me,” Mourinho said. [via the Mirror]. “And if a striker is afraid to come to Tottenham, and a striker is afraid of competition, I don’t want a striker.
Mourinho just wants a striker with the right attitude / Mark Atkins / Getty Images
“If he says I don’t want to go because I don’t want to be in the squad where we have Harry Kane, Son, Lamela, Lucas Moura, then goodbye.
“Yes, I want, I need a striker. The club knows I want a striker and they want a striker. Are we going to get one? I believe we need him to balance the squad. “
Spurs opted not to bid for Callum Wilson or Ollie Watkins as their prices soared, but Metz forward Habib Diallo and Napoli’s Arkadius Malik remain on their radar.
A source has also told 90 Minutes that they are interested in bringing in Braga striker Paulinho (no, not him).