Tottenham will still be hopeful of winning race for Nice winger.
Tottenham Hotspur could be beaten to the signature of Vincent Marcel by Italian club Palermo.
Gianluca di Marzio report Palermo have agreed a fee with Ligue 1 side Nice for the winger.
However the Serie A side must still manage to convince Marcel to join them, which they are uncertain of.
Nice midfielder Vincent Marcel
Tottenham would not face this problem, with French website Foot Mercato reporting a month ago that they had agreed personal terms with the 20-year-old.
The move has not developed since, with Spurs yet to make a bid for the winger, or at least one which has been accepted.
Palermo owner Zamparini told Mediagol a fortnight ago that he was trying to sign Marcel, but feared competition from Spurs and other European clubs would make it difficult.
Ligue 1 winger Clinton Njie flopped at Tottenham
Tottenham fans were lukewarm about the potential signing of Marcel when the rumours first emerged, worried after recent additions of Ligue 1 wingers Clinton N’Jie and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou who both flopped.
Marcel is even more unproven than each of they were, and this may have deterred them from making a firm offer.
Unlike Palermo, Tottenham can offer Champions League football, although Marcel may stand a better chance of breaking into their first team.
He is yet to offer any commitment to Palermo, but the longer Tottenham leave it, the more chance he considers the Serie A side his best – and only option if he moves on.
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