Gedson Fernandes: Midfielder trains with Benfica squad
West Ham’s hopes of signing Gedson Fernandes this month were quashed by Jorge Mendes, the long-time agent of Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho. According to the Daily Mail, the Hammers were strong contenders to land Fernandes but Mendes ultimately offered him to Mourinho late last week.
Benfica star Gedson Fernandes was linked with a move to West Ham (Image: GETTY)
Sissoko’s absence is one of numerous injury setbacks at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium which have prevented Mourinho from implementing his philosophy and methods in the team.
The former Chelsea manager has been forced to make several modifications at Tottenham ever since his arrival in November.
Mourinho said: “If you want to know what I wanted to do here, you look to my first game — against West Ham.
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“That's the way I thought I was going to develop the team. Defend with a back four, attack with a back three.
“My left-back defends as a left-back and then when we go in attacking organisation, my left-back becomes one of the three in the back. Build with three, protect the right-back and do overloads on the other side.
“That was the way I wanted to develop the team. That was the first day of unlucky, goodbye Ben Davies — and then I think everything started with Hugo Lloris.
“You lose your captain for so long and then, in my case, I lose Ben. Then you lose one more, and you lose one more, and you lose Harry Kane, and you don't have a striker.
“Instead of building something that you see, the puzzle is coming and we are developing.
“It's a difficult situation but it's a situation that helps me to better understand lots of the players and options, and what they have to give, and what they don't have to give.”
Tottenham will take on Middlesbrough tonight (8.05pm) at home in the third round of the FA Cup and will then face Watford on Saturday (12.30pm) at Vicarage Road.