According to L’Equipe, as cited by Sport, the flawed relationship between Jose Mourinho and Tanguy Ndombele could see the player leaving Tottenham Hotspur in the summer. Several clubs including Barcelona are already interested in the Frenchman, who still has a long-term contract with the club.
In this article, however, we will discuss three players Spurs could pursue as a potential replacement for Ndombele next season.
Denis Zakaria: The dream signing
Tottenham Hotspur, no doubt, have missed a midfield general following the departure of Moussa Dembele. That is why Denis Zakaria is an appealing option for Mourinho.
Regarded as one of the rising stars in the Bundesliga, the Borussia Monchengladbach midfield ace has established himself as a key member of Marco Rose’s setup this season. His remarkable work rate in the middle of the park, coupled with his positional sense and tenacity make him an effective outlet in the second line of press.
Therefore, Zakaria could be an ideal partner to someone like Harry Winks. Both the players are excellent passers of the ball and could certainly add more composure in the Tottenham midfield while simultaneously making it much more vigilant.
However, getting hold of Zakaria will not be an easy task for the Lilywhites, especially with a host of clubs interested in his services. Not to mention, the Swiss international is likely to cost a fortune.
Corentin Tolisso: The realistic option
When speaking of a practical option, no one fits the bill better than Corentin Tolisso. The Bayern Munich starlet is expected to leave the club in the summer after failing to establish himself as a first-team member of the club.
Tolisso is a gifted central midfielder, who likes to rotate possession and ease the transition play. His ability to carry the ball in half-spaces would make him an ideal alternative to Ndombele. Also, the Frenchman can bring a lot of experience to the table, as well as the winning mentality, having notably won the FIFA World Cup with France in 2018.
Tolisso is unlikely to cost as much as Zakaria. But, Bayern would still likely want to recoup a large chunk of the €41 million they had spent for the midfielder back in 2017
Mario Gotze: The wild card
Mario Gotze is always an option should Tottenham fail to land other stars in the market this summer. The Borussia Dortmund ace is almost destined to leave Ruhrpott at the end of the season, after failing to win over head coach Lucien Favre.
Gotze may not have enjoyed a lot of success over the past few years, but he is one of the most skilled footballers in the Bundesliga. His smart movements and clever footwork could really come in handy while the German international can be deployed in almost anywhere in midfield as well as attack.
What makes Gotze such an appealing target for Spurs is that he will be available for free in the summer, with his current Dortmund contract expiring at the end of the campaign. However, it won’t be surprising to see the Lilywhites facing stiff competition from other clubs.
