JOSE MOURINHO has opened the door for Gedson Fernandes to return to Benfica in January and cut his flop loan short.
The Portuguese midfielder, 21, moved to Tottenham in January on an 18-month temporary switch.
Gedson Fernandes could cut his loan at Tottenham short and return to Benfica in JanuaryCredit: The Mega Agency
But he has featured just 13 times across all competitions under his compatriot Mourinho, totalling 357 minutes of action, and yet to register a goal or assist.
His notable involvement was missing a crucial penalty in the FA Cup shootout against Norwich last season.
And the Spurs boss suggested the deal could be terminated after just a year if that is best for the player.
He told Sport TV: “For me it is never a problem, but a solution.
“Having him in the squad, even if he is not called up and not playing, is an extremely comfortable situation.
“I will never be the one to push him or say that I don’t want him here. But I understand the situation of the kid and Benfica.
“If the club wants to end the relationship here, we will be here to collaborate, because we want the good of the player.
“Benfica has the power to decide and will be accepted by us.”
Mourinho has got the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Harry Winks, Moussa Sissoko, Giovani Lo Celso, Dele Alli and Tanguy Ndombele who all operate in the centre of the Tottenham midfield.
Gedson Fernandes – Spurs stats
Games played: 13 (W4, D6, L3)
Minutes: 357
Goals: 0
Shots: 10
Assists: 0
Chances created: 4
Passes: 125
Tackles: 10
Fouls conceded: 7
Yellow cards: 1
Source: Opta
It means of those 13 appearances for Fernandes, only one of which has come this season when he played 63 minutes of the Carabao Cup win over Chelsea.
He is yet to make a matchday squad in the Europa League and has made the bench once in the Premier League.
By contrast, Carlos Vinicius – another loanee from Benfica – has already racked up four appearances.
Mourinho added: “Vinicius is different. He arrived and his space is obvious. We have two strikers, we don’t have three, four or five, and he is one of the two.
“The other is one of the three best strikers in the world and that creates him a difficult situation, but you can play both together, there are games in which you will do it.
“Alternation is important because Harry [Kane] cannot play all the games. Vinicius will play many times, he will have the opportunity to prove the Premier League and convince Tottenham to buy it.
“If it doesn’t, he will return to Benfica a lot richer and a lot more complete. This operation is good for the three parties.”
Carlos Vinicius is already getting plenty of game time as Harry Kane’s understudyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
