Who is Ze Luis? Profile of Tottenham transfer target, including position, stats as Spurs look for Harry Kane replacement
By Jordan Camp
15th January 2020, 1:33 pm
Tottenham are reportedly close to signing José Luís Mendes Andrade (Ze Luis) from Porto.
The Premier League club have already confirmed their first signing of the Jose Mourinho era when Gedson Fernandes signed from Benfica on an 18-month loan with an option to buy, and the north London side are reportedly close to snapping up the 28-year-old Porto ace.
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Ze Luis – is he the man to replace Harry Kane?
Following a hamstring injury that will see top goal scorer Harry Kane out of action until mid-April, many expected Tottenham to be on the hunt for a replacement and they may well have found their man in Luis. Reports say he has been offered to the club and a deal will hopefully be completed by Thursday evening.
Don't know much about him? Well talkSPORT.com is on hand to tell you more…
Luis began his youth career at Académica Fogo (2007) and Batuque (2008) in his native Cape Verde before switching to Portuguese club Gil Vicente, where he made his senior debut in 2009.
The striker spent two years there, scoring 14 goals in 27 appearances before signing a five-year contract at Braga in 2011.
During his tenure at Braga, he was loaned out twice, firstly to former club Gil Vicente for three months in 2012 before completing a full season at Hungarian side Videoton where he scored nine goals in 26 appearances in the 2013/14 season.
Once Luis broke into the Braga first-team in the 2014/15 campaign he netted 12 times in 35 appearances, including his first career hat-trick against Rio Ave in their victorious Taca de Portugal semi-final. The club lost on penalties to Sporting CP in the final, though Ze Luis didn't make it off the bench.
In July 2015, Luis Joined Russian Premier League club Spartak Moscow, scoring 10 goals in 25 appearances during his first season.
Darren Bent would choose Harry Kane over Sergio Aguero
In the 2016/17 season he netted five times as Spartak Moscow won the domestic championship for the 22nd time in their history.
He was given a contract extension in July 2017, keeping him there until 2021 where he scored a further 20 goals in 60 appearances before departing for Porto ahead of the 2019/20 season.
Six months into his spell in the Primeira Liga and the striker has eight goals in 19 appearances to his name, including a first in the Champions League.
At international level Luis has picked up 19 appearances for Cape Verde scoring three goals.
Tottenham have failed to win silverware in their recent spell of good fortune with a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final being the closest they have come.
Ze Luis is no stranger to lifting silverware having tasted success both in the league and domestically throughout his career.
Ze trophies
Segunda Liga: 2010/11
Taça da Liga: 2012/13
Russian Premier League: 2016/17
Russian Super Cup: 2017
At 6ft 1in the striker is strong and has the ability for good hold-up play and can get his team-mates into the game with ease in the attacking third of the field.
He also possesses a decent first touch when mixed with a quick turn of pace could become a nightmare for Premier League defences, while is capable of amazing pieces of skill.
Your unheard of 28 year old Cape Verdean on loan striker could never
"ZE"…. "LUIS"
"ZE"…. "LUIS" pic.twitter.com/stCfG8HxKY
— He's A Yiddo (@_TTID) January 15, 2020
Why is he moving?
Spurs' frontman man Kane picked up a hamstring injury in the 1-0 defeat to Southampton on New Year's Day.
The injury will see the England captain out until April, though Mourinho suggested it could even be the remainder of the season.
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Harry Kane has undergone surgery following a hamstring injury he picked up in defeat to Southampton
Luis is also managed by Jorge Mendes, who has represented Mourinho for a number of years and proved instrumental in the quick signing of Fernandes.
The move is rumoured to be a loan deal until the end of the season ahead of Kane's return but is subject to a working permit being completed.