Tottenham should not sign Angel Di Maria on a free transfer this summer
When a top level attacking footballer becomes available on a free transfer, there's usually a pretty good reason behind it.
Edinson Cavani was let go because Paris Saint-Germain had Kylian Mbappe and Mauro Icardi in his position already, while they were able to sign Ander Herrera from Manchester United on a free transfer because his wage demands were incredibly high.
Now though, they have a decision to make with legendary Argentine winger Angel Di Maria. The 32-year-old has entered the final six months of his contract with the Parisian side, after joining back in 2015.
Di Maria has been linked with a move to Barcelona and Milan in the past, but it's Tottenham who are reportedly leading the chase this time around for his signature.
Jose Mourinho managed Di Maria at Real Madrid, with the former Benfica man being the first choice right winger in the Madrid side that won La Liga with a record breaking 100 points back in 2012.
With the Gareth Bale loan deal not going as all Spurs fans had hoped it would, Mourinho is keen for a reunion with Di Maria in north London. But is he really the best option that Tottenham can attract? Does the deal even make sense?
Di Maria is physically past his prime. He's not as quick as he once was and nowhere near as agile as he was during his pomp at the Bernabeu. That's not to say he's not a good player, he absolutely is. But Spurs' eyes should be more towards the future.
We've seen in the past with Mourinho that he likes an experienced squad with players in their prime, but we can all acknowledge at this point that ultimately it becomes his downfall.
Di Maria would arrive on huge wages no doubt, especially considering there would be no transfer fee. Spurs would be hopeful that they can offer him Champions League football, but there is no guarantee of that either. The main issue over a deal though would be what it does to the rest of the squad.
Mourinho has already signed Steven Bergwijn and Bale during his time at the club for the right wing position, while Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura are also options in that position.
While Bale is likely to return to Real Madrid in the summer unless there is a big upturn in his form between now and the end of the season, the others are all firmly in Jose's plans.
Lucas is on a contract until 2024 and has featured fairly regularly under Mourinho, while Lamela always seems to be in and around the squad whenever he is fit. Bergwijn is the issue for Spurs, because he came with a good reputation and was seen as the man to improve them in that position.
He started well, but now seems to be in and out of the team and there have been rumours of fallings out with Mourinho already. But the club would be crazy to let a young winger with a huge future in front of him leave in favour of a man on his way down in his 30s.
Bergwijn should be given the time to develop and improve in this team. He has a very similar skillset to Di Maria but by being right-footed he offers more balance to the team and more natural width.
Di Maria is a top class player, without a doubt, but his time at the top level is coming to an end. While he'd be a big name, at a big club, in the biggest of big leagues, it's a deal that stinks of ending up as bad business for Tottenham.
We saw during his time at Manchester United that he has no issue downing tools in the middle of a campaign if it isn't going his way and with the wages he'd demand it's a situation that the club can't afford with finances so tight due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If Spurs want to continue the upward trajectory they have shown under Mourinho, they must abandon the idea of Di Maria wearing the lilywhite shirt next season.