Portuguese sources have now shared a big transfer update on Tottenham Hotspur‘s chase for Sporting Lisbon star Joao Palhinha.
The Lowdown: Lilywhites in mix…
The defensive midfielder with a £50 million release clause has been at the centre of interest from Spurs in recent weeks, according to reports.
It is believed that Antonio Conte’s side are firmly in the mix to sign Palhinha this summer as transfer chief Fabio Paratici seemingly still holds a real interest in bringing him to north London.
Following on from their interest last year, the Premier League top-four chasers seem to have their eyes on Sporting’s touch-tackling gem as O Jogo (via Sport Witness) now share a big update.
[freshpress-quiz id=”383375″]
The Latest: Spurs ‘in front row’…
The newspaper’s sources (translated by SW) claim that Conte and co are in the ‘front row’ for Palhinha’s signing as Spurs enter pole position – with O Jogo going on to add that he should leave Sporting at the end of 2021/2022.
In a further boost, not only will his club have to sell for less than the player’s £50m clause, but they may even have to settle for a fee lower than the ‘€35m (£29.9m) or €40m (£34m)’ they had originally hoped for.
The Verdict: Get it done…
Tottenham’s manager reportedly has his sights on two new midfield additions in the next window and we believe Palhinha could be a seriously credible candidate.
According to WhoScored, the 26-year-old holds his own as a defensive anchor, making a brilliant three tackles per 90 on average in the Portuguese top flight – far more than anyone in Sporting’s squad.
He’s also one of their most fouled players every game, standing out as a frustrating opponent Conte would surely love, leaving little wonder members of the press have branded Palhinha a ‘sensational’ player (Josh Bunting, Islington Gazette).
The international ace may well be a fruitful source of quality and gamesmanship for Conte.
In other news: Offer ready: Paratici sets sights on ‘very Spursy signing’ for Conte at Tottenham! Find out more here.
