According to Spanish outlet AS, Jose Mourinho has personally shortlisted Real Madrid outcast Eder Militao as a potential January reinforcement - with the Tottenham boss still keen to add a star centre-half after falling short in the summer. 

Militao, who has been largely out-of-favour under Zinedine Zidane this campaign, with the £104,000-per-week titan reduced to very minimal playing time, is now being eyed by Spurs and Mourinho as they seek to reinforce the Lilywhites back four.

Militao shortlisted in defender search for Spurs

Indeed, as claimed in this report, the Tottenham boss is eager to bolster his defensive options given his lack of depth - with the out of favour Davinson Sanchez and inexperienced Joe Rodon the only options if key starters like Toby Alderweireld suffer injuries.

Chief scout Steve Hitchen flew out to Italy last summer in a bid to sign Milan Skriniar, but negotiations fell flat and Spurs had to settle on not bringing in a star-studded centre-half option.

Now, Mourinho is eyeing a potential return for Militao after shortlisting him among a list of candidates - coming after the Portuguese was eager to bring him to Spurs last season.

El Desmarque reported in 2020 that Mourinho personally phoned Madrid president Florentino Perez in an effort to sign Militao for the Lilywhites, but it eventually came to nothing.

Transfer Tavern take

Described as 'excellent' by Steve McManaman, despite only playing one Champions League game this season for the Galacticos, he averaged a head-turning 96% pass accuracy - numbers that would impress any coach looking for a ball-playing centre-half.

Whether or not Spurs act on Mourinho's interest remains to be seen, but he would be a good alternative in an otherwise difficult January market.