Postecoglou given chance to sign Jota as dream Tottenham Perisic replacement

Postecoglou given chance to sign Jota as dream Tottenham Perisic replacement
Tottenham transfer news as Ange Postecoglou has been given the perfect chance to replace Ivan Perisic after his long-term knee injury was confirmed

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou will be eagerly looking for an Ivan Perisic replacement after the experienced Croatian suffered a serious knee injury in training. Following the departure of Antonio Conte, Perisic looked set to follow this past summer, however he remained in north London and has proven to be a valuable squad member to Postecoglou.

With Destiny Udogie occupying the left-back role while Son-Heung min and Manor Solomon have shared duties at left-wing, Perisic has had to settle for cameo appearances. His value to the team from the bench under Postecoglou was first discovered in the Bournemouth clash where he and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg were both introduced when the game was flowing in the Cherries’ favour.

Against Sheffield United, the 34-year-old swung in the corner that Richarlison nodded home and he also played a vital role in the build up to Dejan Kulusevski’s winner. Therefore, this injury blow is an unfortunate win for the player and Postecoglou, however the Spurs head coach may have been offered the chance to sign the perfect replacement.

Postecoglou was not the only man to leave Celtic over the summer with Jota departing to sign for Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad. However, his Middle Eastern adventure has turned into a nightmare with his current club so active in the summer they have signed too many foreign players to fit the Saudi Pro League quota with Jota chosen as the unfortunate member to miss out.

The Portugal international worked closely with Postecoglou in Scotland and given his current situation in Saudi Arabia, a reunion could be on the cards. Despite Jota playing 83 games for Celtic and scoring 28 goals in the process, Postecoglou was always looking for more from the 24-year-old, a task he could finish solving in north London.

“So far he has done well when we have kind of thrown him in,” Postecoglou said in 2021 just after Jota joined the club. “He is playing every game and he probably wasn’t ready. I don’t think he has played many games in his whole career. But he has shown great promise and is getting to understand our game a wee bit better. For Jota to get his first one in the league – particularly away from home – will be positive for him. But, again, he is just starting his Celtic career, so hopefully there is more to come.”

Postecoglou also provided a similar verdict earlier this year. He said: “Jota in his career before he got to us wasn’t going on the trajectory he wanted and he was the one who made the decision to come here and work hard at his game and improve, and he is,” the Celtic boss said earlier this year. He’s constantly improving, like all the group, and that needs to keep happening because there’s more in them, there’s more in him and I’m sure he’s working his way towards that.”

Despite Jota attempting to escape his contract in Saudi Arabia, that request is said to have been denied with former Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo holding the belief he is part of the club’s long-term plans. With an imminent exit being denied, a January switch now looks the most likely outcome however matters could’ve changed by then with Jota able to play in the AFC Champions League and the Club World Cup which could see him impress enough that he is then included in the resubmitted squad list for the Saudi Pro League.