Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly reached a "full verbal agreement" to sign Sporting Lisbon right-back Pedro Porro.
The 23-year-old has long been admired by Antonio Conte, who has been on the lookout for added competition in the right-wing back area throughout the January transfer window.
Porro was quickly identified as a leading target, but Spurs were informed that the former Manchester City man would not be allowed to leave for less than his €45m (£39.5m) release clause.
Conte's side have indicated that they are willing to fork out the money, but it had been claimed that disagreements over the payment structure could have led to the deal collapsing.
However, journalist Fabrizio Romano now reports that Spurs and Sporting have struck a verbal agreement over Porro, who will become a Tottenham player before next Tuesday's deadline.
© Reuters
Romano adds that the Spain international will sign a five-and-a-half year deal with Tottenham until the summer of 2028, and the deal could be wrapped up in the next 24 hours.
Tottenham have also supposedly never been worried about the deal collapsing or Sporting pulling out of negotiations, and Porro will say his goodbyes tonight before flying to London for his medical and contract signing on Sunday.
Porro started for Ruben Amorim's side in their 2-0 defeat to Porto in Saturday's Taca da Liga final, completing the full 90 minutes before appearing to bid a fond farewell to the club's fans.
The right-back was seen clapping the supporters, holding his hands up and tapping the Sporting crest on his shirt in an apparent confirmation of his return to England, just one year after his permanent exit from Man City.
The Premier League champions signed Porro from Girona in 2019, but he did not make a single appearance for the club, spending the 2019-20 season at Real Valladolid before joining Sporting on a temporary basis for two years.
Here's Pedro Porro saying goodbye to Sporting fans after his final game with the Portuguese club 👋🏻🟢 #THFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 28, 2023
Tottenham reached an agreement with Sporting tonight — still waiting to get it signed soon. pic.twitter.com/ogKVWKOcw6
Porro helped Sporting achieve a Primeira Liga and Taca da Liga double in his debut season, and he departs having recorded 12 goals and 20 assists in 98 appearances for the Portuguese giants.
The Spaniard has scored three goals and set up 11 more in 26 outings for Sporting in all tournaments this term, and he helped Amorim's side take four points from their two Champions League group-stage meetings with Spurs earlier this season.
Porro's arrival could push Djed Spence out of the door on loan before the January window shuts, with Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty already above the summer arrival in the pecking order.
Spence has made just six appearances for Spurs during his debut season - including a mere three minutes in the Premier League - and he is yet to start a competitive game for the North London club.
Porro will become Spurs' first permanent signing of the January transfer window and second overall, joining Villarreal loanee Arnaut Danjuma in the English capital for the rest of the season.
Danjuma scored off the bench on his debut for Spurs in Saturday's 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round win over Preston North End, where Son Heung-min netted a brace before the Dutchman's effort.
Ben Knapton
