Exclusive: Paulinho, the highly-rated Brazilian midfielder, set for £15m move to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur are believed to have agreed a deal of more than £15 million to sign the highly-rated Brazilian midfielder Paulinho.
The move, if it is completed, would represent a significant coup for Spurs as they attempt to strengthen to challenge for honours next season.
Paulinho is starring in Brazil’s Confederations Cup campaign and has become a key player for coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, scoring in the recent friendly against England.
The 24-year-old has been tracked by Andre Villas-Boas for some time and the Spurs head coach is pushing hard to improve his squad ahead of the forthcoming campaign.
Villas-Boas has been assured that Gareth Bale will not be sold and is keen for Spurs to sign two more attacking players to support the 23-year-old Wales international and convince him also of the club’s intent. A top-class striker is a priority for Spurs. Talks are ongoing over a deal to acquire David Villa from Barcelona, with the Spaniard also currently in Brazil on international duty.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is also set to tell Bale that he will not be sold this summer at any price – even if he refuses to sign a new contract. Levy is adamant that Bale will remain at Spurs for at least one more year but Real Madrid will test that resolve with an offer of at least £60 million.
Last night there were suggestions that Real might also try to hijack Spurs’ move for Paulinho but sources close to Tottenham are convinced that negotiations are advancing well.
Spurs have other targets and have considered making moves for another Brazilian, Bernard, who plays for Atletico Mineiro as well as the Argentinian forward Erik Lamella, who has had a strong season at Roma, the former club of Spurs’ new technical director, Franco Baldini.
Paulinho is a strong box-to-box midfielder and Spurs appear to have beaten off competition from several other leading clubs to acquire him from Corinthians.
Telegraph Sport revealed last November that Spurs were pushing to sign Paulinho, who has also attracted interest from Inter Milan, Chelsea and Paris St-Germain.
The player himself has been keen to join Spurs, who this week appointed Baldini to help oversee transfers. There is a real desire at White Hart Lane to act more quickly in the transfer market, especially as the other top-six clubs are all indicating that they will spend significantly.
The signing of Paulinho will also reassure Villas-Boas that Spurs are ambitious and that he made the right decision in turning down the opportunity to become the next head coach of PSG, who were prepared to pay the £10 million to release him from his contract.
Villas-Boas has been frustrated at missing out on a succession of signings – Brazilian international Oscar, who joined Chelsea, Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho, who has recently moved to Monaco and Internacional striker Leandro Damiao.
Villas-Boas had also been pushing for the appointment of Baldin, who he tried to take him with to Chelsea when he was appointed manager there and with the Italian having wanted the Portuguese to become the coach of Roma. Baldini left Roma earlier this month.
Paulinho is likely to link up with countryman Sandro, when fit, and Moussa Dembele in a reshaped midfield which could allow Villas-Boas to move towards his more favoured 4-3-3 formation.
Paulinho’s arrival might enable Spurs to finally sell Tom Huddlestone, and it could also lead to the departure of Scott Parker.
