Jack Grealish has been reminding Tottenham Hotspur of their transfer window error for much of this season.
On the pitch, the Aston Villa midfielder has been a shining light during an otherwise difficult season for the West Midlands club, scoring nine goals and setting up eight in the Premier League.
And yet two years ago, Spurs tried to include Josh Onomah in a player-plus-cash deal for the 24-year-old and, predictably, it didn’t quite work.
But if Tottenham are haunted by that failure, it’s nothing compared to the regret they could and probably should feel with regards to Bruno Fernandes.
The Portugal international has been ripping up the Premier League since joining Manchester United in January and on Tuesday night, scored another two to make it five goals and three assists in eight Premier League outings.
He looks a phenomenal signing by the Red Devils and worse yet, Tottenham could’ve had him.
Speaking in December, Fernandes said this via Record: “There were already many contacts, especially with Tottenham. It was the team that wanted me the most and was the only one I agreed to talk with, because there were other clubs that didn’t interest me or whose project was not up to my expectations. Tottenham fit into everything I wish I had at that moment.”
Presumably, the North Londoners didn’t meet Sporting Lisbon’s valuation of the 25-year-old.
Tottenham have been made to pay for their penny pinching in the past – most recently with Grealish – but refusing to stump up the cash for Fernandes looks a lot more costly.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
