Owner says Tottenham linked midfielder will cost £17m; he wants £75,000-a-week

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It will take a £38 million package to lure Tottenham linked midfielder Sergio Oliveira away from FC Porto, Fiorentina owner Rocco Commisso told MaisFutebol after failing to bring the Portugal international to Serie A. 

At this stage, it is hard to get a handle on where Spurs stand in the transfer market. 

Oliveira is one of many players who has been linked with a move to North London in recent months. But, if you look a little closer, it’s tempting to wonder whether the 29-year-old’s future was tied inextricably to that of Gennaro Gattuso.

It is no secret that Gattuso wanted to take Oliveira to Fiorentina during his brief and troubled 23-day spell in charge of La Viola.

And it is surely no coincidence that Oliveira was first mentioned as an option for Spurs, via Record, at a time when it looked like Gattuso would be replacing Jose Mourinho in the Tottenham hot seat – before the fans had their way and spooked Daniel Levy into calling off the negotiations, that is. 

Either way, Oliveira’s future remains uncertain, especially with such lofty sums required to seal the signature of a man who will turn 30 before long.

Will Sergio Oliveira miss out on a move to Tottenham now?

“There was talk of a certain Sergio Oliveira, from FC Porto,” said Commisso, who is yet to reveal why Gattuso walked away from Fiorentina after less than a month in charge. 

“In the case of Sergio Oliveira, Jorge Mendes, his agent, presented us a cost of 20 million euros (£17 million) for the transfer, in addition to other costs relating to commissions, which were never less than £20 million.

“But the salary was almost double for a 29-year-old player (£75,000-a-week). In other words, Sergio Oliveira’s overall cost was 44.5 million euros (£38 million).

“Besides, in five years, Sergio will be 34. We wouldn’t be able to make any return (on our investment).”

Last season was by far and away the best of Oliveira’s career, a midfielder never famed for his goal-scoring ability scored an unexpected 20 goals in all competitions – including that free-kick winner against Juventus in the Champions League. 

And unless Mendes and Porto are willing to reduce their demands, Oliveira may be staying for another year in the Primeira Liga.

Tottenham hired another Mendes client in Nuno Espirito Santo this week. So don’t be surprised if those Oliveira links resurface before the end of August.