Gedson Fernandes to Tottenham transfer latest: What we know so far

Target: Gedson Fernandes
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Alex Young @alexwsyoung14 January 2020

Tottenham have entered another transfer window needing a lot but not expecting much.

Jose Mourinho has said he was happy with his squad before the injuries started to mount, most notably losing Harry Kane and Moussa Sissoko for three months.

Money is, as ever, understood to be tight at Tottenham as the club continue to pay back their state-of-the-art stadium, so loan moves could be prioritised.

Step forward Benfica midfielder Gedson Fernandes, who has emerged as a transfer target.

Here's what we know so far...

Is the deal close?

Yes. West Ham had been in talks for most of the previous week until, Standard Sport understands, agent Jorge Mendes offered Gedson Fernandes to Tottenham.

Spurs have moved quickly to trump their London rivals and now an 18-month loan deal looks likely to be sealed within days after the player passed his medical on Monday.

Fernandes' agent, Jorge Mendes, is in London on Tuesday to finalise the transfer.

A small loan fee - understood to be around €5m (£4.3m) - would be the only outlay, plus wages. An agreed fee of €65m (£56m) to make the deal permanent has been included, which the loan fee will be subtracted from.

Photo: PA
PA

What does the deal say about Tottenham's transfer plans?

A serious injury to Moussa Sissoko against Southampton on New Year's Day has forced Tottenham's - and Jose Mourinho's - hands somewhat, though concerns over Tanguy Ndombele's fitness have been in the manager's mind since his arrival.

Mourinho told reporters earlier in January: "When I arrived [Ndombele] was injured and now - six or seven weeks later - he is injured again. So there is no continuity in his development. he needs minutes, he needs to be playing."

Even so, Spurs are determined to make any additions in January with the view to the longer-term plan, rather than plugging gaps, with Mourinho keen to trim a bloated squad. Interest in Gedson Fernandes on a long loan would hint at a possible stay beyond 2021.

Christian Eriksen continues to be of interest to Inter Milan in January, though it remains to be seen if the midfielder would rather wait for a bigger table of offers as a Bosman signing in the summer. ​

Is he good enough?

It remains to be seen. Gedson Fernandes turned 21 years old earlier in January so is very much a work in progress, though has experience under his belt.

He played 22 times for Benfica last season, as he exited his teenage years, as the club won the Primeira Liga after a one-season absence.

Fernandes is a big, strong figure in the centre of midfield in the box-to-box mould, and enjoys running with the ball at his feet. He regularly plays in a two-man central midfield, much like how Jose Mourinho sets up, though can also be deployed further forward.

One concern would be his match fitness, having struggled with injury this season and playing just a handful of minutes since November.

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