Opinion: Signing £6.2m player means Jose Mourinho would be emulating key Pochettino mistake

It was reported last week by Tuttosport, via Le10sport, that Tottenham are interested in bringing Thomas Meunier to the club, but it may not be such a wise move for the north London outfit to make.

Jose Mourinho needs to improve a defence that has conceded 40 goals in 29 league games, and while it is encouraging that the club is targeting a right-back, there are several options who may be better than Meunier.

Serge Aurier is the only senior natural right-back currently in the squad and although he has provided an attacking threat with seven assists this season, he has been caught out at the back far too often.

That has led to fan ridicule frequently in 2019/20, and contributed to Spurs’ run of just three clean sheets in 26 games under the Portuguese boss.

However, Meunier wouldn’t necessarily solve that problem. He has fared rather well in Ligue 1 with 1.7 tackles and 1.1 interceptions this season, but there is no guarantee that he could make the adjustment to the Premier League.

Aurier has failed to deal with the high tempo at times, despite achieving 2.2 tackles and 1.5 interceptions in his last season for PSG, proving that defending in France, or as part of a PSG side, is perhaps a little easier than in England.

Meunier, who signed for PSG for €7m (£6.2m), may also be unable to offer an improvement in an attacking sense, too, achieving two assists despite playing for a team that sit clear at the top of Ligue 1 with 75 goals scored.

Mauricio Pochettino perhaps looked to Aurier due to him being an offensive full-back who became available after falling out of favour, and Meunier shares similarities with that.

The Cote d’Ivoire international failed to displace Kieran Trippier in his first two seasons, making 16 and six starts respectively in 2017/18 and 2018/19, and Spurs have declined since he became a first-team regular this season.

Mourinho risks falling into the same trap, which could prove problematic considering Meunier will be 29 just after the beginning of next season, and that means the Portuguese boss should think twice before making a move.