Jose Mourinho is reportedly on the hunt for another right-back this January having appeared dissatisfied with what Spurs currently have to offer. One man who would slot in on the right side of defence and improve Tottenham Hotspur is Joao Cancelo, Manchester City’s summer arrival. El Desmarque has suggested the Portuguese boss is keen to bring his compatriot to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the possibility of more first-team football could lure Cancelo to the capital.
During the opening half of the season, the 25-year-old has started just six Premier League fixtures, with Kyle Walker being preferred, but Cancelo has been a regular feature in the cup competitions. The Portuguese right-back has provided only one goal, coming against Oxford United in the Carabao Cup. Still, overall, he will not have started as many games, or as many high-profile matches, as he would have hoped for when he arrived from Juventus.
At Tottenham, Cancelo, valued at £45m (Transfermarkt), could rival Serge Aurier for a starting spot, and while the current first-choice right-back for Spurs has recorded more tackles and interceptions per match, his discipline both positionally and mentally can be questioned. Mourinho may favour Cancelo’s predictability, while Aurier is one of the most unconventional and charismatic right-backs in the division, and his average of 2.7 key passes per Champions League match highlights his attacking approach.
Cancelo is no stranger to a burst down the touchline, but there is a little more finesse to his game, firstly he has an immaculate 89.6 per cent pass accuracy, while Aurier’s is 78.2 per cent, from significantly fewer passes. The 25-year-old is also more versatile and able to play on either side of a back four, along slotting in at right midfield, which is a beneficial attribute considering Spurs are also experimenting at left-back having deployed Jan Vertonghen there.
Mourinho appears to have overlooked Kyle Walker-Peters, who has scarcely featured under the new boss, so there is an opportunity for Cancelo to establish himself at right-back. Should Mourinho see him as first choice, ahead of Aurier, Cancelo may be very tempted to swap Manchester for London.
