Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho is chasing Ivan Perisic once again this month, according to reports...

What's the word?

Foot Mercato claim the Spurs boss is eyeing a loan move for the Croatian international before the end of the January transfer window.

Mourinho was keen on bringing Perisic to Manchester United in 2017, as per the Guardian, and he revealed to Russia Today (via the Metro) exactly why he was so keen a year later, he said:

"Perisic is the kind of winger that is different to the others. Normally you look at wingers and they are just fast and creative. But he is also physical, very physical. Fantastic in the air."

Ibra-esque masterstroke

The Inter Milan attacker may be the wrong side of 30, but Mourinho has shown in the past that he's not afraid to ignore players entering the twilight years of their career.

None more so than Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had a massive impact for the Red Devils. He too arrived in England having never featured in the Premier League but proved pivotal on their way to winning the EFL Cup and Europa League that season.

34 at the time, the Swedish colossus contributed towards a whopping 38 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt. That's a remarkable impact considering the doubts over his advancing years.

Perisic is very much in a similar mould to Ibrahimovic, given Mourinho's aforementioned comments about his aerial ability.

He has also shown that he can still very much compete at an elite level, contributing to five goals so far this season, which includes a strike against Real Madrid and an assist against their arch-rivals, Milan.

During his time on loan to Bayern, their chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was full of praise, claiming Perisic wasn't "spectacular" but was "very reliable."

The winger, valued at €20m (£18m) has also been lauded for leadership qualities by former Inter boss Luciano Spalletti, as per Mediaset Premium (via Goal), a key attribute often bandied about with Ibrahimovic too.

Perisic is thought to be on around £120k-per-week at the San Siro, so it would be a gamble to bring him in among Spurs' highest-earners, though it's a calculated risk given it'll only initially be on loan rather than a transfer.

With Spurs in the Carabao Cup final, Mourinho could well repeat another masterstroke with the addition of the 31-year-old this month. He could well provide that Ibra-like edge in their hunt for a first trophy since 2008.

AND in other news, Spurs should CASH IN on Harry Winks after "future captain" emergence...