After an agonising wait for what has felt like time immemorial, Tottenham Hotspur have finally confirmed the capture of Pedro Porro from Sporting CP just in time for the door slamming shut on the January window.
Having long been linked with the 23-year-old Spanish wing-back, Spurs accelerated negotiations for Porro prior to the advent of the weekend when it became apparent that Sporting were not buding on their £40 million valuation of the Spaniard.
Spurs ostensibly agreed to meet the players’ £40 million release clause, only for Sporting to move the goalposts on Sunday night regarding Porro’s fee, seemingly demanding more money for the ostensibly outbound Spanish international and putting the move in a state of apparent jeopardy.
However, such was the player’s desire to head off to N17 that all parties pulled through to ensure that Porro is now a Spurs player.
The dynamic wing-back therefore joins Tottenham on an initial loan deal until July 1st, but his loan deal will end with an obligation to buy, and after July 1st, Porro will be officially a permanent Spurs player.
The club will reportedly pay Sporting a little more than Porro’s £40 million release clause – around £42 million supposedly – in a staggered fashion over the next five years from the summer, and have forfeited 15% of their hitherto-agreed sell-on clause from any fee Sporting fetch from a prospective sale of former Spurs winger Marcus Edwards.
What a relief!
Spurs fans, what do you make of the club finally capturing Porro? Have your say by visiting the Vital Spurs fan forum here.