Leicester City’s Ayoze Perez is ‘very close’ to joining Villarreal after Arnaut Danjuma swapped La Liga for Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, according to Marca.
It’s just nice to win one for once, right Tottenham fans?
Willian in 2013 to Luis Diaz in 2022. Spurs have seen their fair share of high-profile transfers fall through in dramatic, often devastating circumstances. But, with Danjuma turning down Everton in favour of a move to North London, Tottenham are, at least, on the winning side for a change.
The Telegraph say that Danjuma even underwent a medical at Everton in midweek. The Dutch international got cold feet following the sacking of Frank Lampard, however. The Toffees finding themselves in yet another sticky situation.
Danjuma was officially unveiled by Tottenham on Wednesday; joining on a short-term deal with a £27 million option-to-buy clause in his contract (The Times).
The former Bournemouth winger is not the only exciting attacker on his way out of the Estadio de la Ceramica this month either. Nicolas Jackson will now follow in Danjuma’s footsteps, in more ways than one. Bournemouth, The Athletic say, have agreed a £20 million fee, beating local rivals Southampton to the Senegal speedster.
Nicolas Jackson could join Tottenham’s Arnaut Danjuma in England
The departures of Danjuma and Jackson, meanwhile, rob Villarreal coach Quique Setien of two players who have scored four La Liga goals and started 14 games between them in 2022/23. With Ayoze Perez’s contract expiring in the summer, the Leicester benchwarmer could be an affordable, attainable addition to an increasingly thin-looking frontline.
Perez, Marca say, is ‘very close’ to joining the two-time Champions League semi-finalists. The one-time Newcastle forward could even be confirmed as a Villarreal player before Monday’s home clash with Rayo Vallecano.
Perez has started only three Premier League games this season. Opportunities will be even harder to come by, too, following James Maddison’s return from injury. Leicester are also eyeing further attacking additions. Though a deal for Fiorentina’s £35 million-rated Argentina international Nicolas Gonzalez feels unlikely as things stand.
Perez is reportedly a target for Real Betis too. But Los Verdiblancos coach Manuel Pellegrini is quick to play down those reports.
“With all the speculation that appears in the press, we would have to name Ayoze and ten or twelve others (when discussing) those who are leaving and those who are arriving,” Pellegrini quips.
“We have a squad at this moment. For now, we have this squad.
“It could not be said that the (market) is closed,” the former Man City coach adds, via El Desmarque. “Because another player could leave, and we would have to replace them. But in general terms, the club is not in the market looking for players.”
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