Tottenham have been linked with a move for Bruno Fernandes this summer, but a recent report from O Jogo (h/t The Sun) suggested the player was no longer interested in a move to Spurs because he stood a better chance of first-team football in Manchester United’s midfield.
Regardless of whether that’s true, were Tottenham ever in the race for the Sporting CP midfielder? Spurs are close to completing a club-record deal for Tanguy Ndombele from Olympique Lyonnais. They’ve made him a priority signing for weeks.
The 22-year-old impressed in Ligue 1 last season and will be a belated replacement for Mousa Dembele. Giovani Lo Celso could be a replacement for Christian Eriksen if Tottenham can agree a deal with Real Betis, so it doesn’t appear they have a need for Fernandes.
His £18k-per-week salary at Sporting won’t break the bank, but Fernandes’ asking price would be a major stumbling block. The 24-year-old could cost up to £70m this summer, potentially surpassing Ndombele’s fee. Whether Daniel Levy is willing to spend around £135m on two players remains to be seen.
Spurs aren’t short on midfield depth either – Eric Dier, Moussa Sissoko, Victor Wanyama, Harry Winks, Dele Alli – so the Portuguese international isn’t a priority. The latest reports suggesting Fernandes turned down Tottenham mean very little considering he may not have been a genuine transfer target.