Mourinho orders €30m summer bid for Brazilian to fit key Tottenham role

Tottenham are set to make a €30m offer for in-demand Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes at Jose Mourinho’s request, a report claims.

Gabriel has been linked with a move to the Premier League – and specifically London – in recent months. Arsenal were originally believed to have made a bid in January.

It was then claimed that Chelsea had overtaken them in the race for the Brazilian. However, claims are now emerging that Gabriel could end up at a different club from the capital.

Those reports have come from Fichajes, who claim that Tottenham will put €30m on the table for Gabriel this summer.

The Brazilian centre-back became a regular for Lille this season, starting 23 of their 28 league games. His form has also attracted the likes of Real Madrid and Napoli.

But according to Fichajes (via Sport Witness), it is Spurs who are ready to meet his valuation. It remains unlikely that Jan Vertonghen will stay beyond the end of this season, so they need reinforcements at the back.

The report claims Mourinho has personally requested that Tottenham sign Gabriel. The centre-back is under contract until 2023, having signed a new deal in February.

Despite that extension, it looks likely that the Brazilian could move on this summer.

Previous reports indicated that Spurs were €10m short of Lille’s demands. However, with Napoli also ready to make a similar offer, it appears they may have been sparked into action and raised their bid.

read also:​Everton expecting deal for Lille defender Gabriel

It would not be the first time Tottenham have dealt with Lille since Mourinho took over. The head coach brought two assistants from the French club upon his appointment, while he has a good relationship with their sporting director, Luis Campos.

Campos himself has been linked with taking up a similar role at Tottenham.