Tottenham target Willian Jose has the raw materials to be a Premier League hit

Could Willian Jose be the answer to Tottenham's problems in attack? With Harry Kane out injured, manager Jose Mourinho is desperately on the lookout for a striker before the January transfer window closes.

The 28-year-old striker has been identified as a player who could solve their woes after catching the eye at Real Sociedad?

But what is there to know about the Brazilian? Sportsmail's PETE JENSON provides the lowdown on him.

First up how much will he cost?

He has a contract until 2024 and his release clause is £59million so that does not bode well in terms of Tottenham getting a bargain (probably because he's not worth that).

Tottenham's first offer was closer to £25m which Real Sociedad - who only own 70 per cent of the player's rights - rejected. So a stalemate, you might think but the forward is playing his hand well. 'I don't want to talk about a player who did not want to play in this game,' said Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil on Wednesday night after Willian Jose pulled out of the team's cup game with Espanyol.

Supporters are furious with the player because of that, which makes it tougher for the club to keep him and therefore gives Spurs a better chance of having a lower offered accepted.

What's his background?

He signed for Real Madrid's B team 'Castilla' from Santos when he was 22-years-old and made an impact in every sense getting sent off after 15 minutes in one game and scoring a hat-trick in another. He was behind Raul de Tomas (recently signed by Espanyol for £17m) but eventually jumped ahead and was called up to the first team squad by Carlo Ancelotti.

After being released by Real Madrid he had decent spells at Zaragoza in the second division and then with Las Palmas before earning a move to Real Sociedad.

What are his strengths?

His aerial ability stands out in La Liga. At 6ft 1in he has the height and he uses it well. This year only one of his eight league goals has been scored with his head but that has more to do with Real Sociedad playing through teams via Martin Odegaard than anything else.

They have been more about crosses in previous seasons and Willian Jose scored five of his 15 goals with headers in the 2017-18 campaign - as many headed goals as Cristiano Ronaldo that year. He was excellent that season under former Barcelona player Eusebio Sacristan who had the team playing good football with Willian Jose as the fixed striker in front of a five-man midfield. He showed his decent touch and awareness of bringing others into play.

What are his weaknesses?

Some Real Sociedad supporters have wanted him to be a little more Diego Costa-like in terms of aggressive intensity. Similarities are inevitably drawn with his fellow Brazilian striker although he is more of a target man than a player to run beyond defenders.

Some of his reactions at being taken off have shown how much he does care too. He punched the top of the dugout in a game last season after being taken off against Huesca. The supporters were on his side too signing his name as he walked off.

What about his personality?

Not not much of a smiler, he can be introverted if he doesn't feel the confidence of the coach and the supporters. That said he responded well to the competition of Alexander Isak at the start of the season in terms of out scoring the exciting young Swede who now looks set to replace him as first choice centre forward.

What's the informed view from San Sebastian?

El Desmarque's Marta Gonazalo who has covered Real Sociedad for a decade says: 'It would be a real blow to the team to lose him when things are so going well in the league and cup.

'He's been consistent scoring 12 and 15 goals in his first two seasons and then 11 because of a long spell out injured last season. The last goal he scored put him level with Antoine Griezmann in the list of overseas player with most goals for the club.

'He has solved what was a problem position for the team. He is a player who plays well with his back to goal and has a good goalscorer's instinct. It's true that you don't often see him smile even when things are going well for him.

'This season there has been real competition for his place with Alexander Isak and you can see that he hasn't always liked that.'

So will he suit the Premier League, Tottenham and Jose Mourinho?

There is a sense of a player playing within himself at the moment. Some of his better performances suggest there is more to come. If Mourinho can get inside his head and prime him for the different challenges of the Premier League then the raw materials are certainly there for him to be successful.