£87m release clause: Tottenham launch opening bid to seal new signing
Tottenham Hotspur have now reportedly launched an opening bid to sign a South American defender for Thomas Frank, receiving an instant response in the process.
Frank: Tottenham "alert" to reinforcements
After Tottenham were booed off at full-time following a 1-1 draw against Sunderland, Frank defended their decision to sell Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace and claimed that those in North London are “alert” to the possibility of reinforcements.
The Dane, downtrodden after another difficult afternoon, told reporters: “I think it’s very important [to say] we took the decision before Mo got injured.
“We don’t know how that looks like, so I think that’s one thing and sometimes when you take that decision, sometimes you can’t delay them if you want to for example.
“Sometimes, you know, the decisions make more sense further down the line and now there was an opportunity to sell a player, which the club hasn’t been that good at in the past. And sometimes that window can be small, if you want to do that.
“You can say that if we had Xavi (Simons) and Mo for today, then I think we have enough but now we, for this game, didn’t have them. Mo only for what 10 minutes? So, there’s just some games where you’re very light and that happens for teams.
“We are really, how can you say, alert. The club really want to see what we can do to strengthen the squad and the team.”
It’s clear that attacking reinforcements are needed, but despite recent links with the likes of Savinho, it could be another defender who arrives first and foremost this month.
Tottenham launch opening bid to sign Souza
As reported by The Athletic’s Elias Burke, Tottenham have now launched an £8m bid to sign Souza from Santos, who have instantly rejected that offer.
The 19-year-old left-back is a rising star in Brazil and has seemingly been earmarked as a player who could end Ben Davies’ Spurs career and provide competition for the likes of Destiny Udogie.
The Brazilian is certainly rated highly, with U23 scout Antonio Mango going as far as to describe him as “aggressive and tenacious” in a raving review last month.
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It remains to be seen whether Spurs return with a second bid. If they do, then it may have to be in the region of €100m (£87m) to trigger Souza’s hefty release clause for clubs outside of Brazil.
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ByDominic Lund
It would be quite the gamble to take on a young player, especially when Frank is desperate for an attacking spark. Nonetheless, the teenage talent is certainly one to watch.