Tottenham Hotspur's proposed deal for Sporting Lisbon defender Pedro Porro is supposedly in danger of collapsing due to disagreements over the structure of Spurs' payments.
The former Manchester City youngster had been identified by Antonio Conte as his top target to reinforce the right-hand side, and an initial £32.5m offer from the Lilywhites was turned down.
Ruben Amorim's side have been adamant that Porro will not be allowed to leave for anything other than his €45m (£39.5m) release clause, which Spurs are now willing to pay.
The North London giants were therefore expected to wrap up a deal for the 23-year-old before Tuesday's transfer deadline, with personal terms not expected to be a problem either.
However, the Daily Mail now claims that Tottenham and Sporting are struggling to find common ground on a payment structure, and a move for the Spaniard could soon be off.
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The report claims that Tottenham thought that they had made progress this week after a period of frustration, with Sporting supposedly 'dragging their heels' before a breakthrough was made.
Porro was supposedly ready to agree a five-and-a-half year deal with Spurs after Saturday's Taca da Liga final with Porto, but Sporting could now end negotiations with Tottenham.
Conte's side were understood to be willing to offer an unnamed player as well as cash for Porro's services, and the defender is still waiting anxiously to learn if talks can be revived.
Porro left Girona in 2019 to sign for Man City, but he was loaned out to Sporting for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, helping Amorim's men win the Primeira Liga title in his debut campaign.
Sporting turned Porro's loan into a permanent deal in the summer, as the 23-year-old left Man City without making a single first-team appearance for the Premier League champions.
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However, the right-back has shone in a wing-back role for Sporting, scoring 12 goals and providing 20 assists in 97 matches, including three goals and 11 assists from 25 games this term.
Tottenham currently have Emerson Royal, Matt Doherty and Djed Spence competing for minutes on the right-hand side, with the latter joining permanently from Middlesbrough in the summer.
Spence has endured a nightmare first season under Conte, though, making just six appearances in all competitions and playing a mere three minutes in the Premier League.
The 22-year-old could be allowed to leave on loan before the January window shuts if a deal for Porro is completed, and Brentford have supposedly had a bid for Spence rejected, with Spurs reluctant to include an option to buy.
Tottenham's only signing so far this month has been the loan capture of Arnaut Danjuma from Villarreal, and the Dutch attacker was named on the bench for Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie with Preston North End.
Ben Knapton
