Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino sent spies to watch £85m-rated Benfica striker - 7M sport

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino sent spies to watch £85m-rated Benfica striker



Posted Sunday, March 17, 2019 by Dailystar.co.uk

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino sent spies to watch £85m-rated Benfica striker
Tottenham are eyeing Benfica ace Jota (Pic: GETTY)

TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino sent spies to watch Benfica ace Joao Pedro Neves Filipe - who is also known as Jota - earlier this week, according to reports in Portugal.

The Argentine chief did not make a single acquisition during the last two transfer windows.

The north Londoners are watching the cash with a move to their lavish new stadium imminent.

Nevertheless, Pochettino appears to already be planning for the summer.

Portuguese daily A Bola say scouts from Spurs watched Jota in action against Dynamo Zagreb on Thursday.

The 19-year-old is regarded as a rising star in Portuguese football.

Jota can play in a variety of attacking positions and is slowly being blooded into the Benfica first team.

Spurs aren’t the only side monitoring his availability closely though.

Bayer Leverkusen also had a representative in attendance for the Europa League clash.

Jota currently has a tempting £25m release clause.

However, Benfica are desperate to increase that to at least £85m.

Spurs were left stunned last week after a 2-1 defeat to lowly Southampton.

Speaking after the match, Pochettino looked to play down expectations with his side now battling to stay in the top four.

"It is so difficult to understand why we changed so much from the first half to the second,” he said.

"The second half, we did not take it seriously, I don't want to criticise too much but when you lose a game that was under control after 45 minutes - we should be 3-0, 4-0 - and finishes in 2-1 defeat, it is difficult to accept.

"Their first goal was a cross in front of the goal where four players can put the ball out of the stadium.

"This is our reality. People talk about perceptions but we need to realise if you do not fight with intensity for the Champions League, you will struggle.

“We are fighting against big sides. We had a big gap, welcome to the reality, we are under pressure to win games.

“It is a massive challenge for us."

Tottenham face Liverpool at Anfield after the international break.



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