Tottenham have suffered a second embarrassing blow in the space of 24 hours, with Liverpool this morning hijacking their move for Porto's Luis Diaz.
Spurs have been in talks with Porto over the highly-rated Colombia winger but the Reds are now close to completing a deal worth €60million (£50m).
Spurs were hopeful of signing Diaz after yesterday missing out on another target, Adama Traore, who is set to join Barcelona on loan from Wolves.
The double transfer blow leaves Spurs with less than four days to make the improvements to Antonio Conte's squad before Monday's 11pm transfer deadline.
Diaz was Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp's top choice for the summer and the Reds' original plan was to move for the 25-year-old at the end of the season.
But Spurs' interest prompted Liverpool to act, and they are working on a deal worth an initial €45m (£37m), plus a maximum of €15m (£12.5m) in adds-ons.
The overall package is similar to the deal which took Diogo Jota to Anfield from Wolves in September 2020, with Liverpool believing they are set to get good value from Porto, who were initially demanding €60m up-front for their prized asset.
Negotiations have been led by Liverpool's current deputy sporting director, Julian Ward, who is fluent in Portuguese and set to replace sporting director Michael Edwards in the summer. The Reds are today sending a delegation to Argentina, where Diaz is on international duty with Colombia, to try to complete the deal.
The news has increased the pressure on Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and managing director Fabio Paratici to do business in the final days of the transfer window, with Conte having made no bones about the middling quality of his squad and the urgent need for new players.
Conte has prioritised the signing of a right wing-back, a midfielder and a forward this month, while he has told the club to offload Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Dele Alli.
Spurs wanted to convert Traore to a right wing-back but the Spain international was uneasy about the plan and is set to return to Barcelona, where he came through the youth ranks and began his career. Traore, who has 18 months remaining on his Wolves deal, is set to join the Catalans on loan, with an option to sign for around £30m in the summer.
Spurs' interest in Traore had appeared to cool at the start of this week amid suggestions they were prioritising Diaz, but they now look certain to miss out on both players.
Paratici will have to turn his attentions to other wing-backs and forwards, although time is running out for the club to satisfy Conte's demands and a disappointing window would raise further questions about the Italian's long-term commitment to Spurs' rebuild.
Spurs have lined up a loan move for Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat, with an option to buy the midfielder in the summer for around £14m, but they are attempting to free up space in the squad before signing the Moroccan, who is currently at the African Cup of Nations.
Paris Saint-Germain are in advanced talks over a season-long loan move for Ndombele, although they are also working to downsize Mauricio Pochettino's bulging first-team squad.
Spurs are demanding PSG cover Ndombele wages in full, thought be around £110,000-a-week, and want an obligation for the mega-rich Ligue 1 club to buy the Frenchman at the end of the campaign.
Spurs have offered Lo Celso and Dele to a number of clubs on loan, with the latter of interest to Newcastle, while Matt Doherty is also free to leave if a new right wing-back can be signed.
