Mourinho turns to Fiorentina mountain as modest price is set

Nikola Milenkovic

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is ready to turn his attentions to signing Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic during the January transfer window, according to reports.

Spurs signed Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Joe Hart, Matt Doherty, Sergio Reguilon, Gareth Bale and Carlos Vinicius this summer. Joe Rodon also arrived late on – though he is seen as one for the future.

But Mourinho still craves a new centre-half to marshall his rearguard and was strongly linked with Milan Skriniar.

However, efforts to prise the Slovakian away from the San Siro ultimately proved unsuccessful.

Nonetheless, the Spurs boss remains determined to bolster his defence and is now reportedly tracking Milenkovic.

The 23-year-old was wanted by Mourinho back in his days as Manchester United boss.

And he has followed his progress since with the Serbian going from strength to strength in Fiorentina’s defence.

Now, according to Italian publication La Nazione, Mourinho is making Milenkovic a priority for Tottenham in the winter window.

 

 

Spurs have also been given hope a deal for the 6ft 5in man mountain can be agreed too.

With his contract due to expire in summer 2022, Fiorentina know his price will continue to fall.

As such, the Italian publication claims La Viola have set a modest €25m (£22.5m) fee for Milenkovic. The fee is unlikely to deter Mourinho and it’s reported he will make a case to Daniel Levy to sanction his signing when the window reopens.

 


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Klopp could beat Mourinho to Skriniar

Spurs, meanwhile, could see Skriniar arriving in the Premier League – but in the red of Liverpool.

Inter still rate the defender in the €60m bracket, and while the fee looks too steep for Spurs, it’s reported it won’t disuade Liverpool.

Milan Skriniar Inter Milan

Reports on Friday claimed Jurgen Klopp is now ready to make him his top target in January.

Liverpool failed to replace Dejan Lovren over the summer and have been hit by the hammer blow of potentially losing Virgil van Dijk for the rest of the season.

Midfielder Fabinho has stepped in and looked comfortable in the role, but he is also on the sidelines. That has left Klopp to blood youngsters Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams.

Both players, while tremendous prospects, don’t have the experience Klopp graves. As such, he has reportedly been granted permission to sign a new defender in January.

Skriniar has made over 150 appearances in Serie A for Sampdoria and Inter and also appeared more than 30 times for his country.

 

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