Former Arsenal star puts Tottenham transfer in motion after Brighton rejection paves way for two moves
Sporting Lisbon are gearing up for life after Pedro Porro, with the Portuguese side turning to a former Arsenal star who’s ‘keen’ to help lay the foundations for a critical Tottenham transfer, per a report.
Among the areas Tottenham are seeking to address in what little remains of the January window is right wing-back.
Antonio Conte can already call upon Djed Spence, Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty. However none are of the calibre required for a team hoping to bridge the gap to England’s elite with a serial winner like Conte at the helm.
As such, Spurs have pursued Sporting’s Pedro Porro for much of the month and already have an agreement over personal terms in place.
Fabrizio Romano reported the Spain international, 23, will sign a five-and-a-half year deal if a move to Tottenham does occur.
The transfer guru also claimed an agreement between the two clubs is close following extensive talks earlier in the week.
Sporting have repeatedly pointed Tottenham in the direction of Porro’s €45m (approx. £39.6m) release clause. However, Spurs were seemingly making progress on a deal that would see a figure in that range paid in instalments, rather than triggering the clause outright.
A key factor in Sporting giving the green light to Porro’s sale is securing a suitable replacement while the window remains open.
On that front, the Athletic reported Ruben Amorim’s side chased Brighton’s Tariq Lamptey.
However, the Seagulls are “refusing to let Lamptey leave” according to David Ornstein. With that route closed, Sporting are turning their attention to ex-Arsenal right-back, Hector Bellerin.
Bellerin can help Tottenham sign Porro
The 27-year-old joined Barcelona on a free over the summer, though is struggling for game-time at the Camp Nou.
He’s featured just three times in the league and only seven times across all competitions this season. As such, the Athletic claimed Sporting are ‘exploring’ a move for the minutes-starved Spaniard.
Ornstein added Bellerin is “keen” to jump ship to Sporting in the event they act on their interest. Contact between Sporting and Barcelona hasn’t yet been established, though it certainly sounds like a move that can be made and there’s a willingness on the player’s end too.
With a direct replacement now in Sporting’s sights, the foundations are slowly being laid for Tottenham to wrap up their move for Porro.
The wing-back would come with a sparkling résumé having been named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Season two years running.
TEAMtalk recently took a deep dive into the statistics and when compared to Spurs’ current options, the results are overwhelming.
Porro may well be in action on Saturday night when Sporting face FC Porto in the Portuguese League Cup final.
If Porro does take the field, Tottenham, Conte and perhaps Bellerin too will be hoping he comes through the match unscathed.
