Tottenham could land the perfect midfielder for Jose Mourinho in Inter's Nicolo Barella.

What's the story?

With Spurs stumbling somewhat in the Premier League - they now find themselves nine points behind fourth-placed West Ham - it's no surprise that the club are already being linked with a number of players ahead of the summer transfer window.

According to Italian publication CalcioMercato, Inter's Barella is attracting more and more attention from the likes of Spurs, but that the Nerazzurri are intent on tying him down to a new contract.

Perfect for Mourinho

Wherever Mourinho has been, having players who are mentally strong and tough is something the Portuguese man appears to really lean towards - you only have to look at how Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has become a firm favourite of his since his move from Southampton last summer.

And, in the £49.5m-rated Barella, Spurs could give Mourinho another player in that mould.

Italian icon Arrigo Sacchi has spoken glowingly about the kind of characteristics that Barella possesses that would surely make him an instant favourite of the Spurs boss.

He said: "He is a warrior full of determination. He is humble, he remembers his mistakes and has a desire to correct them. Nicolo had humility and passion, the two things I was looking for in my players, long before he had good feet."

And, his former coach at Cagliari, Rolando Maran, raved about his passing abilities, saying: "He is extraordinary. I put him as a playmaker in front of the defence towards the end and he didn’t put a foot wrong. He just gets better and better."

Having Barella alongside Ndombele could give Spurs two exciting midfield talents who are capable of getting their foot on the ball and dominating proceedings in the middle of the park.

While Ndombele has got the guile and power to skip past challenges and beat the press, Barella can help set the tempo and feed the likes of the Frenchman and those further forward with his incisive passing - his tally of five assists in Serie A is comfortably more than any Spurs midfielder (Hojbjerg with three).

Given his personality and his actual ability on the pitch, Barella seems like he's the perfect midfield man for Mourinho.