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Football London
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Rob Guest

The AC Milan star who would be perfect for Jose Mourinho and Tottenham in Serge Aurier transfer

It remains to be seen if Serge Aurier will still be a Tottenham player come the start of the 2020/21 season.

Heavily linked with a move away from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 12 months ago, the Ivorian instead remained in the capital and featured regularly under both Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho.

However, speculation about his long-term future continues to do the rounds as we approach the new campaign.

As was the case this time last year, Italian giants AC Milan are keen on enticing the 27-year-old to the San Siro.

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The Rossoneri finished the Serie A season strongly and now Stefano Pioli will be intent on adding to his squad, with a new right-back on his wishlist.

A summer exit for Aurier would leave the Lilywhites extremely short at right-back as Kyle Walker-Peters is expected to join Southampton very soon, but Spurs have been linked with Norwich City's Max Aarons and Lille's Zeki Celik.

While selling Aurier would raise money to help bring in a new right-back, Spurs could look to strengthen other areas of the pitch by asking for a player from AC Milan as part of the deal.

But who could they ask for? football.london takes a look.

Rafael Leao

Tottenham desperately need to bring in a striker this summer to provide competition for Harry Kane.

It was criminal to not replace Fernando Llorente 12 months ago and it proved incredibly costly when the England international limped off at Southampton on New Year's Day.

One player Spurs could ask for in a deal for Aurier is striker Leao.

The Portuguese frontman only joined the Rossorneri last summer but he has been in and out of the starting XI ever since.

Rafael Leao has been working his way up the age groups for the Portugal national team (VI Images via Getty Images)

Leao, who hit six goals last season, will be well known to Mourinho's assistant Joao Sacramento following their season together at Lille before his move to Italy.

The head coach likes to play with a tall striker and the 21-year-old would be perfect for Spurs given he is 6ft 2in.

Theo Hernandez

Hernandez has excelled in his first year at the San Siro since joining from Real Madrid on a permanent deal last summer.

The left-back has earned rave reviews and his performances have seen him linked with a return to his home country to join Paris Saint-Germain.

While Ben Davies has been a regular in Mourinho's side, Spurs could do with a full-back who can get forward and regularly contribute with goals and assists.

Spurs would have to offer Milan cash on top of a deal including Aurier, but with seven goals and five assists to his name in 2019/20 he would be an excellent addition for the Lilywhites.

Davide Calabria

Does Mourinho ask for a right-back in a deal if Aurier heads to Milan?

Well, Calabria would fit the bill as he is an attack-minded full-back and it appears that he could be on the move this summer as Sevilla and Real Betis are interested in his services.

Spurs will need two right-backs prior to the transfer deadline if both Aurier and Walker-Peters leave, with Calabria a player who could provide competition for Aarons, Celik or perhaps another option altogether.

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