This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
According to Portuguese media outlet A Bola, Tottenham Hotspur are still interested in signing Sporting Lisbon attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes, and one of his under-the-radar traits mean that he is perfect for Spurs.
What’s the word, then?
Well, A Bola report that having failed with an attempt to bring the Portugal international to north London during the previous summer transfer window, they are ready to try again.
The report says that Tottenham remain interested in the 25-year-old, who has started the season well with the Portuguese giants – scoring seven goals and providing a further five assists in 10 matches in all competitions, according to Transfermarkt.
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A Bola also hint that the 25-year-old could be seen as a potential replacement for Christian Eriksen, who is attracting interest from Real Madrid.
Fernandes is a leader
When most Tottenham fans see this latest link to Fernandes they will automatically think about his brilliant record in the final third for Sporting – 55 goals and 43 assists in 119 outings – but there is something else, which tends to go under the radar, about him that catches the eye.
The attack-minded player is also the Liga NOS outfit’s captain, showing his leadership skills by skippering the team in every game he has played so far this term.
That suggests the 25-year-old is clearly admired at the club and in the dressing room by his peers, and he is trusted to be vocal on the pitch when he needs to be.
It is something that has sometimes been missing when you look at Spurs at times this term, with nobody really grabbing things by the scruff of the neck when they have been struggling – see the 7-2 defeat against Bayern Munich and the 3-0 loss against Brighton and Hove Albion last time out as prime examples.
A lot of their so-called senior players have ultimately gone missing when things have gone wrong on the pitch, and the fact that Fernandes is Sporting captain suggests he would stand up and be counted if he was a Tottenham player.
Another strong character looks to be exactly what Mauricio Pochettino and Co need right now, and perhaps that is why they are exploring a potential January move for the Portugal international.