Tottenham are chasing business for Juventus duo Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur
Tottenham are approaching the signing of Juventus forward Dejan Kulusevski and are also negotiating to take their team-mate Rodrigo Bentancur to north London before Monday’s deadline for transfer.
purs is trying to borrow from the 21-year-old Swedish international Kulusevski with an obligation to buy, and PA’s news agency understands that the negotiations are at an advanced stage.
Tottenham football manager Fabio Paratici has also been in talks with the club he left this summer for Uruguayan midfielder Bentancur over a likely permanent deal.
If Spurs could get both deals, it would to some extent appease the frustration of missing Porto’s Luis Diaz and Wolves’ Adama Traore this week.
Kulusevski, who travels to London for a medical on Sunday according to reports in Italy, has not been a regular for the Serie A team this season, and has only started 10 of 20 matches in the league.
Still, his versatility in forward areas, where he can play as a winger, striker or attacking midfielder, will appeal to Paratici and Spurs boss Antonio Conte, who has identified a number of positions to strengthen this month.
One of these was the central midfield and Bentancur could fit the bill, with Spurs skipping Aston Villa in the race to sign him.
The 24-year-old has played 25 times for Juve this season, including five Champions League matches.
Conte will be worried about the lack of arrivals, with a deadline of just over 24 hours away, after appealing for reinforcements to keep his hopes of challenging for the Champions League.
An eye-catching deal to get Diaz to north London has been hijacked by Liverpool, who will now sign him, while Traore joined Barcelona despite Spurs chasing him since the summer transfer window.
Diaz emerged as a surprise target earlier this week, but Liverpool’s longtime fans have flexed their muscles, with the Colombian national team player choosing the Reds ahead of Spurs, who were willing to pay Porto the requested price.
Spurs have also missed non-league star Ollie Tanner, who has decided to stay in Lewes.
A fee was agreed for the Isthmian Premier League striker, who would join the club’s U23 squad, but he did not agree on personal terms.
A statement on Lewes’ website read: “Lewes Football Club would like to confirm that although the club and a Premier League club agreed on a principled agreement for the transfer of Ollie Tanner, Ollie and the Premier Club could not ultimately agree on personal terms and conditions. he is still a Lewes FC player.
“Tanner missed today’s match against AFC Hornchurch due to an injury he suffered in the middle of the week and we look forward to welcoming him back to the side as soon as he has recovered.”
A possible move for Tanner was complicated by historic tweets in which he seemed to criticize the club and mock striker Harry Kane.
Spurs have also been linked with Middlesbrough right-back Djed Spence, currently on loan at Nottingham Forest, and Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma, but the PA news agency understands that the club is not planning a move before Monday’s deadline.
They are still anxious for Dele Alli, Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso to leave, with interest in all three players.