Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing a swoop for Benfica winger Joao Pedro Neves Filipe, popularly known as Jota, according to reports.
The young attacker has a €26.3 million release clause in his Benfica contract, and Spurs are looking increasingly likely to trigger the clause.
The 20-year-old spent the majority of his season playing for Benfica B in the second tier of Portuguese football before he was promoted to the senior side.
As per Portuguese outlet Record, Tottenham are keen to sign the winger this summer, and are contemplating a bid for the player.
Jota then lifted the Liga NOS title alongside Joao Felix, another budding youngster coming through Benfica’s ranks.
Jota to Tottenham Hotspur: A shrewd move by Pochettino
It has been 17 months since Mauricio Pochettino last signed a player, and yet, they are in the Champions League final in what has been a fairy-tale season for the club.
Spurs always have a tight budget, and go for younger, cheaper options as compared to their rivals. Benfica’s Jota might be the next player to suit the aforementioned criteria perfectly, with the Portuguese touted as one of the best youngsters coming through in European football.
The 20-year-old scored 10 goals and has 8 assists for the Benfica B side, and has already featured in 5 games for the senior team. The versatile Portuguese is predominantly a left winger, but can be deployed on the right or play second fiddle to the striker in a more central role.
Jota has a good passing range and likes to cut in on his favoured right foot. His trickery on the wide areas coupled with his acceleration to go past defenders would add more potency to the Spurs squad that does not necessarily have agile wingers, and rely on the full-backs to stretch defences.
Pochettino has a knack of developing youngsters, and might chisel Jota as he has done with the likes of Dele Alli and Harry Kane, and eventually turn the Portuguese into a top Premier League winger.
All the attention is currently on Felix, but considering how talented Jota is, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he moves ahead of his compatriot in a couple of years.
Stat Courtesy: Transfermarkt
