Tottenham Hotspur are ramping up their pursuit of Marcel Sabitzer, according to emerging reports...
What's the word?
Football Insider claimed that Spurs have the RB Leipzig midfielder firmly on their radar after making initial contact during the January transfer window.
It's thought that the 26-year-old captain will leave the Bundesliga outfit this summer as he enters the final year of his contract at the Red Bull Arena, having snubbed an extension to his deal.
There is also a belief that Sabitzer is a personal target of Jose Mourinho as the Spurs boss believes he has the energy, physicality and technical ability to thrive in the Premier League.
Reports in Germany suggest that Leipzig would let their star man leave for a fee in the region of €42m (£36m).
Everything Ndombele should be
In Sabitzer, Spurs would certainly be getting an industrious livewire of a midfielder and one who can contribute immensely towards their attacking returns.
Mourinho heavily relies on Harry Kane as his major source of goals. The Englishman has bagged 19 times in the Premier League this term and has had direct involvement in 32 of their 51 goals - that's 62.7%. Only Heung-min Son (13) has scored more than five for Tottenham in this league campaign.
Spurs' midfield just hasn't delivered in a creative sense, particularly Tanguy Ndombele, who despite enjoying a major upturn in game-time and form has still only managed to find the net three times.
Following their 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Sunday, Mourinho suggested that he wanted more from their club record signing.
"Tanguy, I have to be honest, Tanguy is the kind of guy who you always expect more than what he gives you, because he is so talented that you always expect more," said the Portuguese to Canal+ (via The Independent).
"But the feeling is always that he has something more to give. He never reaches the limits of the effort, the sacrifice, even the ambition. So he is the guy that I love him as a player but frustrates me a little bit because I think he can be much better, much better than what he is."
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That's a rather damning statement over the French midfielder's attitude and drive to improve.
In contrast, Sabitzer has delivered 23 goals and 16 assists since the start of the 2019/20 campaign, the same summer in which Ndombele joined the north London side. The latter has contributed towards only 16 goals in that timeframe.
It's no wonder the RB Leipzig man been lauded as a "goal threat" by current boss Julian Nagelsmann in the past.
The 46-time Austria international has been lauded for his work ethic and leadership qualities in the past, again a vast difference to the Spurs dynamo. "He has clearly changed for the better and has become a leader," explained Sabitzer's former coach Ralf Rangnick to Kicker (via Bulinews). "The way he has developed his personality is remarkable. I've only rarely experienced something similar."
Similarly, former Spurs shot-stopper Paul Robinson has claimed that Sabitzer is a "sensational player," whilst transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has dubbed him "perfect for Mourinho".
On the above evidence, Sabitzer could well come to Spurs and become everything that Ndombele should've been - a box-to-box maestro capable of pulling the strings at the highest level.
After all, this Tottenham squad has experienced the damage the Austrian can do, having bagged a brace to knock them out of the Champions League last term.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy must continue to push ahead with his plans to land Sabitzer - if Mourinho is to enjoy success here, then the Leipzig man must be playing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next season.