Report: Mario Gotze on Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho’s transfer radar

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Borussia Dortmund playmaker Mario Gotze is reportedly being eyed by Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho.

The Daily Express claim in a report that the Portuguese is demanding deals for three players before the transfer deadline, including Gotze, his Dortmund teammate Paco Alcacer and Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale.

So far only Gedson Fernandes has come in for the north Londoners, but Mourinho is eager for more new faces this week.

Bale is thought to be the first-choice signing, but Gotze is apparently also an option.

The Germany international, who scored his country’s World Cup final-winning goal against Argentina in 2014, is out of contract at the end of the season with Bild reporting he is set to leave.

Gotze has made 214 appearances for Dortmund across two spells, and he also played for Bayern Munich for a few years.

As a youngster, Gotze was tipped to go on and become one of the world’s best players but he has not realised that early potential, with injuries and fitness problems having been a big hindrance.

Indeed, manager Felix Magath famously described him as a ‘once in a century talent’ (Guardian).

TBR’s view – Gotze would be a risky signing

Gotze probably isn’t what Tottenham really need this window, although maybe Mourinho now sees Giovani Lo Celso as someone who can be more effective from deeper.

Spurs making a move for the 27-year-old certainly wouldn’t break the bank, but it would be a risk.

Gotze – who can also operate as a false nine – is a talented player on his day but whether he would be able to handle the intensity and physicality of the Premier League is the real question.

The star was diagnosed with myopathy in 2017 (Suddeutsche Zeitung) which led to chronic fitness problems, so that would certainly have to be taken into account by Spurs officials.