‘Deal off’ – £39m Tottenham-bound defender ‘left distraught’ after club ‘renege’ on transfer ‘terms’

Jason Soutar
Tottenham target Pedro Porro during a match

Pedro Porro’s move to Tottenham is ‘off’ after Sporting ‘reneged’ on the terms of the Spaniard’s €45million (£39m) transfer, according to David Ornstein.

The Premier League club have been chasing the right-wing-back for weeks and eventually agreed a fee to sign him last week.

They were reluctant to meet the player’s £40m release clause as that would mean paying the entire fee up front, instead agreeing a £39.4m package.

On Saturday, Fabrizio Romano said ‘here we go’ and ‘if all goes to plan’ Porro will sign a contract until 2028.

Unfortunately for the player and for Tottenham, it has not gone to plan.

According to The Athletic correspondent David Ornstein, the deal is ‘off’.

Porro has apparently been ‘left distraught’ after Sporting president Frederico Varandas ‘told him he would be allowed to leave’.

Furthermore, Sporting even had Barcelona’s Hector Bellerin lined up as a replacement with a deal appearing imminent.

The Portuguese club have ‘reneged on terms of the proposed deal’, leaving Tottenham in a sticky situation.

Clearly reluctant to pay Porro’s £40m release clause as triggering that means they have to pay the entire fee in one go, this looks like the only option at this stage.

After Sporting went back on their word with the transfer window a day away from closing, you would not be surprised to see Tottenham trigger the release clause.

Should the Londoners trigger his release clause, the Portuguese giants would have no say on Porro’s departure.

They could have a very disgruntled star on their hands for the remainder of the season after he was denied a move back to the Premier League.

Porro joined Manchester City from Girona for €12m back in 2019 but failed to make an appearance for the Citizens.

The 23-year-old had a loan spell with Real Valladolid before spending time with Sporting on a temporary basis.

Sporting then took up the opportunity to sign the defender for a measly €8.5m last summer.

Porro has an impressive 11 assists and three goals in 26 matches across all competitions this season.

Spurs got a close look at the Spain international in the Champions League after their two ties against Sporting.

Porro played the full 90 minutes as his side were beaten 2-0 in the Portuguese League Cup final on Sunday.

He had waved goodbye to the Sporting fans following the defeat, assuming it was his last game for the club, but it will not be unless Spurs cough up £40m in one payment.

Come on Daniel Levy, get your money out.

Antonio Conte signed Djed Spence in the summer transfer window but is yet to hand the youngster a start this term.

The Italian head coach has instead persisted with Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty, whose performances have not been good enough.

Missing out on Porro could be a huge blow. He would have improved Conte’s side and sorted out a position in dire need of upgrading.

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