Tottenham Hotspur plan to hold fresh talks with Sporting Lisbon over a January transfer for Pedro Porro. The Spaniard is Spurs coach Antonio Conte’s top right-back target this month.
That is according to The Guardian, which reports Conte is keen to strengthen his options at full-back. But the north London club’s attempts to sign Porro have proven to be frustrating as the Leoes hold firm in their valuation. The Primeira Liga side also do not have to sell him.
Sporting Lisbon have already sold Matheus Nunes and Joao Palhinha this season after they secured summer switches to the Premier League. So, the Estadio Jose Alvalade natives will demand Tottenham pay Porro’s €45m (£40m) release clause in full to sign the 23-year-old.
Porro only joined the Leoes from Manchester City permanently for €8.5m (£7.5m) last July after two years on loan there. But the one-cap Spain international, who is under contract until 2025, is a key part of head coach Ruben Amorim’s squad with 22 outings this season.
The Don Benito native has also laid on 10 assists across all competitions, plus two goals, so far this term. No other Sporting Lisbon player has yet offered a double-digit haul for assists this season. Former Tottenham prospect Marcus Edwards has given the next most on nine.
Chelsea could hijack Tottenham’s talks for Porro’s transfer from Sporting Lisbon
Tottenham have held initial talks with Sporting Lisbon over Porro’s transfer through agents as Conte targets the right-back. Spurs will also return to the Estadio Jose Alvalade for fresh talks over his services. Chairman Daniel Levy feels he must back the Italian during January.
Levy senses a need to show Conte support during the winter market against pressure from fans. But Ben Jacobs has suggested that a ‘hijack from Chelsea is very possible’. The Blues could also prove more willing to go out and trigger Porro’s release clause in full than Levy.
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