Report: Tottenham reject chance to sign ‘fantastic’ Mourinho favourite available for £13m

Follow us on Google Discover

Tottenham Hotspur have turned down the chance to sign Champions League winner Ivan Perisic in a deal that would have seen Tanguy Ndombele join Serie A challengers Inter Milan in return, according to Calciomercato.

Jose Mourinho’s admiration for the jet-heeled Croatian winger is no secret.

After all, his Manchester United side spent pretty much the whole of the summer trying and failing to lure Perisic to Old Trafford in 2017, while Mourinho himself has described the former Dortmund ace as a ‘fantastic’ talent with a unique skill set.

“Perisic is the kind of winger that is different to the others,” Mourinho told Russia TV of the 2018 World Cup finalist.

“Normally you look at wingers and they are just fast and creative. But he is also physical, very physical. Fantastic in the air.”

It may come as a surprise to learn, then, that Tottenham have turned their nose up at the chance to bring Perisic to England after he helped Bayern Munich win the treble with eight goals and ten assists in all competitions.

Mourinho loves nothing more than an experienced, proven, top-class performer.

But Daniel Levy’s Tottenham are a team who tend to look more towards the long-term and swapping 23-year-old Ndombele for a player eight years his senior does not make a whole lot of sense – from a financial perspective at least.

Ndombele endured a miserable debut season at Spurs, but no one in north London is giving up on the £63 million record signing just yet.

If the Frenchman can prove he is more than a luxury player, then he certainly has the talent to stroll into this Tottenham midfield.

Calciomercato adds that Perisic could still join Bayern on a permanent basis, although the Bundesliga champions are yet to meet Inter’s £13 million demand.