Tottenham Hotspur target Rodrigo Varanda has signed a new contract but could still leave Brazilian giants Corinthians for Red Bull Bragantino, according to Meu Timao.
Varanda’s name might mean little to you but, at Spurs, this is a player who has cropped up in conversation plenty of times over the last couple of seasons.
The North London giants are long-time admirers of a the Sao Paulo-born wonder-kid, having sent scouts to watch Varanda in action on numerous occasions over the years.
According to the Sun, Tottenham finally stepped up their interest in May, opening talks about a potential £8.5 million deal for one of the most exciting talents in South America.
Why is Rodrigo Varanda not joining Tottenham?
At the time, Spurs didn’t have a manager in place, sacking Jose Mourinho a few weeks earlier. There was no director of football in situ either; Fabio Paratici’s appointment still a month away.
And it seems that, with Paratici and new coach Nuno Espirito Santo looking elsewhere as they attempt to strengthen a somewhat imbalanced Spurs squad before the end of August, Varanda is in danger of slipping through their grasp.
According to Meu Timao, Varanda has signed a new deal with Corinthians until 2024. He was initially set to become a free agent next January.
That is not to say the highly-rated forward will be staying at the Neo Quimica Arena for the long-haul, however.
Red Bull Bragantino are now closing in on a deal that will see Varanda swap one Serie A outfit for another, although Corinthians are expected to retain around 15 per cent of the player’s rights. This means they will stand to have a welcome financial windfall should Bragantino eventually sell Varanda for a substantial fee.
Varanda is not the only Brazil-based forward to have been linked with a move to North London in recent weeks. But Arsenal, too, look set to miss out as Juventus close in on Santos starlet Kaio Jorge.
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