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Report: Spurs want to beat Guardiola to Marten de Roon, Mourinho once called him ‘phenomenal’

Photo by Andy Rain - Pool/Getty Images
Photo by Andy Rain - Pool/Getty Images
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According to 90Min, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City are both interested in signing Atalanta midfielder Marten de Roon.

It’s claimed that City wanted him last summer as a replacement for Ilkay Gundogan – but the German ended up staying at the Etihad Stadium.

City still want the Dutchman, but would allegedly only be willing to put together a move for him at the end of the season.

Tottenham are keen on a deal in January though, with Jose Mourinho allegedly keen to bring a new midfielder to his Spurs side for the second half of the season.

Mourinho wanting De Roon is no great shock; he called him ‘phenomenal’ after his United side beat De Roon’s Middlesbrough in 2017.

The 29-year-old only had one year in the Premier League with Boro, and allegedly feels he has unfinished business in English football.

ALLIANZ STADIUM, TURIN, ITALY - 2020/12/16: Marten de Roon of Atalanta BC in action during the Serie A football match between Juventus FC and Atalanta BC. The match ended 1-1 tie. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images

De Roon has unbelievable work rate and defensive ability in front of the Atalanta defence, with Mourinho potentially seeing him as a player who could take some pressure of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

He turns 30 in March, which may put some teams off, but Mourinho has never shied away from such deals – and we may now see him launch a move to bring De Roon back to England next month.

GEWISS STADIUM, BERGAMO, ITALY - 2020/12/13: Marten de Roon of Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio  gestures during the Serie A match between Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio and Acf Fiorentina. Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio wins 3-0 over Acf Fiorentina. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images