Romano reveals ex-Barcelona player Tottenham ‘almost’ signed in January window

Ben Stewart
Sergej Milinkovic Savic of SS Lazio and Gerard Deulofeu of Udinese Calcio during the Serie A football match between SS Lazio and Udinese Calcio at Olimpico stadium in Rome (Italy), October 16th, 2022.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Tottenham came close to signing Gerard Deulofeu in the January window before making a move for Arnaut Danjuma.

Spurs managed to pick things up towards the end of the month as they got deals over the line for Pedro Porro and Danjuma.

Matt Doherty left the club on a free transfer while Djed Spence and Bryan Gil were sent out on loan for the remainder of the season.

Prior to Spurs hijacking a move for Danjuma, Romano has explained that they had an alternative target in mind.

“This is a very surprising one,” Romano explained on his YouTube channel. “We know that Tottenham wanted a new offensive player.

“They were linked with Nicolo Zaniolo, then they got Danjuma on loan. I can reveal that Tottenham were considering a move for Gerard Deulofeu. He is doing incredible in Serie A. He has played for Everton, Watford and Barcelona in the past.

“An important player who was very appreciated by the board. The deal was almost done for Deulofeu to join Tottenham, but he had a serious injury and was not available anymore on the market before joining Tottenham.”

Prior to his injury, Deulofeu had been having a good season for Udinese. He has scored two goals and has produced six assists this season in Serie A.

Despite not getting a deal over the line for Deulofeu, Fabio Paratici was pleased with the transfer business that Spurs managed to get done.

“I think we have to look at not the small picture about this transfer window but the big picture of our project,” Paratici told the club website.

“We want to sign just players that can add something to us, not to just sign players because we have to sign players or because we are under pressure about signing players.”

Danjuma was the forward option Spurs decided to sign instead of Deulofeu and Paratici is backing him to be a success in North London.

“I think Danjuma will be really important, he can help us a lot,” he added. “He is a player that for two or three years, in every transfer window, he was near to joining some big clubs and even in the last summer Villarreal rejected a big offer for him and when we got the opportunity to sign him, we took this opportunity.”

The Dutch winger scored on his debut with a goal against Preston North End in the FA Cup.

Paratici adds: “We know the player so we are happy more for him because it’s a good debut and it’s a good injection of confidence. I think this is the most important thing.

“We have the option to buy and so we will see what happens in the next five months.”

READ MORE: Transfer gossip: Real expect Bellingham chase to be ‘short and sweet’, Arsenal eye Chelsea winger