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James McCarthy is a transfer priority for Tottenham Hotspur this transfer window, reports claim, and the Everton midfielder would make a great alternative to their much sought-after previous target, Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin.

Simon Jones of MailOnline claims that Spurs are "monitoring developments" when it comes to the 24-year-old's future at Goodison Park.

Jones stated:

[McCarthy] has grown frustrated following the lack of talks over a revised contract. ... Tottenham are in the process of re-shaping their squad and are looking to offload midfielders, [and] head of recruitment Paul Mitchell was a big admirer of McCarthy during his time at Southampton.

As a former talent scout for the Saints, Mitchell would have been expected to inform his new employer of Schneiderlin's many merits, but perhaps Southampton's valuation of the midfielder is proving too much for Spurs.

McCarthy, in this instance, would make a fine alternative to the high-priced Saints ball-winner.

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Morgan Schneiderlin and the Price Tag

Unless Saints manager Ronald Koeman is hugely fortunate, Schneiderlin is a name that will dominate this January transfer window.

After pursuits by the likes of Spurs and Arsenal in the summer, the Frenchman declared his frustration at both his current club's transfer activity and his own situation, per Ben Jefferson of the Express.

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Schneiderlin told French radio station RMC: "My situation was simple: at the end of the season my goal was to take the next step and join a club playing in the Champions League or [Europa League]."

While it will have been hugely disappointing for Schneiderlin to be denied a move to a club challenging in European competition, he conceded: "[Southampton] look to me for the future."

Southampton rightly "blocked" his move away from St. Mary's, while sanctioning the sales of Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and Rickie Lambert, among others.

Schneiderlin has since continued his fine form on the south coast this season, and Southampton are now in a position that may well see them challenging for European qualification at the end of the Premier League season.

This is largely due to his contribution, with three goals in 15 games and an average of 3.5 tackles per game, which is bettered only by team-mate Nathaniel Clyne, Nemanja Matic, Mauricio Isla and Mile Jedinak.

Schneiderlin even dwarfed Chelsea's outstanding Cesc Fabregas in a Twitter poll to decide who would take a slot in Sky Sports Monday Night Football's team of the season so far, as ultimately selected by pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.

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This, unsurprisingly, has seen speculation mount as to a January move for the midfielder, with the Mirror's Steve Stammers suggesting that a £27 million fee is being readied by Spurs, as well as Arsenal and Manchester United.

But with Koeman's assertion that Southampton "will sell nobody in January," per the Mail, the requisite fee could increase even further.

Schneiderlin's form suggests a fee of £40 million would not be remiss, but can Spurs afford that?

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James McCarthy

McCarthy's blossoming availability presents Spurs with an option who could perform the same role as Schneiderlin without a frenzied transfer tug of war to acquire his services.

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After joining Everton in a deal worth between £13 million and £15 million in 2013, per BBC Sport, McCarthy has become one of manager Roberto Martinez's key players.

Martinez recently declared, per the Liverpool Echo's Phil Kirkbride, that "McCarthy is someone who brings consistency to your performances."

Martinez continued: "Normally you get a good defensive footballer or a technical footballer but James brings both."

These are qualities hugely reminiscent to those possessed by Schneiderlin at Southampton, and McCarthy makes a fine comparison with the France international.

McCarthy vs. Schneiderlin, Defensive Statistics (PL) Games Tackles per game Interceptions per game Fouls per game McCarthy 13 2.3 1.5 1.2 Schneiderlin 15 3.5 2.1 2.1 WhoScored

McCarthy vs. Schneiderlin, Possession Statistics (PL) Games Pass Accuracy Dribbles per game Dispossessed per game McCarthy 13 87.9 per cent 0.8 0.7 Schneiderlin 15 89.1 per cent 0.3 0.9 WhoScored

Overall, while McCarthy is not as tangibly busy defensively, he makes less fouls.

He is also more energetic on the ball and less profligate, as evidenced by his higher dribble rate and lower dispossession rate respectively.

This suits Spurs' system, as Jones notes, "McCarthy would fit into Mauricio Pochettino's pressing style should he be willing to make the move."

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Since arriving at Spurs last summer, Pochettino has looked to instill his own brand of football, which he claimed at his first press conference as manager in August, "is about exciting football, pressing high, playing with flair," per Jack Pitt-Brooke of The Independent.

This is very similar to the style employed by Martinez at Everton, and McCarthy would take little time to adapt to Pochettino's system.

Almost as adept an option as Schneiderlin and at a year younger, McCarthy makes a great alternative target for Spurs.

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The Frugal Option?

The sticking point here, of course, is that Everton are unlikely to want to part with such an invaluable asset as McCarthy without appropriate compensation.

Jones claims: "Arsenal wanted to buy him in January and were willing to go to £20 million, but they are wary Everton will refuse all offers and don't want to become engaged in a saga, hence looking at other targets."

He went on to detail how "Tottenham have similar reservations but like the player and will see how events develop."

These reservations are well founded, as McCarthy remains one of Everton's most important and consistent players, and his injury issues this season have contributed to the Toffees' Premier League woes.

Midfields featuring Ross Barkley, Muhamed Besic and Gareth Barry have enjoyed varying degrees of success, but none has been as formidable as when it is complemented by the well-rounded play of McCarthy.

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Everton would be wise to look to hold onto McCarthy at all costs, but his reported contract worries may force the club's hand in January.

Although still high at the £20 million mark, McCarthy would solve Spurs' midfield problems.

Even at this juncture, McCarthy presents a much more frugal option to Schneiderlin.

If he eventually leaves Southampton, Schneiderlin will likely command an astronomical fee, due to is importance to a European-challenging side, his widespread recognition and his high potential.

James McCarthy can do the job Tottenham Hotspur surely envisaged previous target Morgan Schneiderlin undertaking, but the Everton midfielder would come at a fraction of the cost.

Statistics via WhoScored.com



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