Pochettino eyes up USA’s Green as first Spurs signing

Bayern Munich and USA winger Julian Green is being linked with a £5m summer move to next season’s Premier League top four hopes Tottenham (11/4).

Spurs recently appointed former Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino to replace Tim Sherwood at the helm at White Hart Lane, and the Argentine hopes to make the 19-year-old his first signing.

Green, who came through Bayern’s youth academy, has played just two minutes for the German giants’ senior side, in a Champions League group game 3-1 victory against CSKA Moscow this season. He was also an unused substitute in a Bundesliga fixture against Braunschweig.

However, he heavily featured for Bayern Munich II this term, and gained an impressive 15 goals and eight assists in just 23 appearances, but reports suggest he is keen on a move to play regular first-team football.

This form led to being called up to his country of birth, the USA, by former Germany hero Jurgen Klinsmann for a friendly in April against Mexico, despite being eligible to play for Die Mannschaft through his mother. He came off the bench that day as the two sides drew 2-2.

Although Green played in German youth teams, the USA have now won the race for the teenager to represent them, and he has made their World Cup squad ahead of national legend and record goalscorer Landon Donovan.

Spurs, who Klinsmann also represented, are keen to recruit this summer, following another disappointing table finish (sixth) outside of the top four, and failed signings.

Green, who featured in the USA’s most recent friendly with Turkey for his second international cap, goes to the World Cup in Brazil with his country, who have been placed in a tough-looking Group G.

Ironically, Green will go up against the nation where he was brought up, Germany, as well as Portugal and Ghana. The Americans are outsiders both to top that pool at 14/1 and qualify to the knockout rounds at 16/5.

Green, meanwhile, is priced at 20/1 with Coral to be his country’s top scorer, and 250/1 to somehow win the World Cup with them.