Chelsea and Tottenham are battling it out to sign Sporting CP right-back Pedro Porro this January, with contact being made over a deal, as per recent reports. The former Manchester City defender has impressed for the Portuguese club, having joined permanently last summer following a successful loan spell.
His performances, particularly in the Champions League, have not gone unnoticed, with plenty of promise for the 23-year-old to continue improving. Spurs were the first side linked with a switch as Antonio Conte looks to improve on his current squad amid a dip in form.
Given the importance of wing-backs in the Italian's current and favoured system, the move for Porro could be huge for his January transfer plans. "The wing-back is really important if you play with three at the back," Conte said when asked about his ideal wing-back.
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"They're important because it's no good if they are too defensive because in this position you need to have quality. I like to have players that in the past was a winger because in this situation they are good at one vs one."
However, that move for an ideal wing-back has come under threat from London rivals Chelsea, who are also in the market for a player on the right flank. Reece James' importance in the side cannot be understated and given his recent long-term injury absences, there are real concerns for the side when he isn't available.
Former boss Thomas Tuchel summed it up best when he claimed that he wished he could clone James to play him at both right-wing-back and at centre-back, underlying his quality and importance. However, if they want to challenge Spurs for Porro as a rotation option, they will have to move fast.
That's because transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has reported that Tottenham are now in contact with Sporting via intermediaries to get a deal done in January. The Portuguese club have made it clear that a €45million (£40million) release clause must be triggered or else he will stay.
It remains to be seen whether they will waver from that stance, however, and with plenty of time left in the window, there could be some twists and turns on the horizon.
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