Tottenham Hotspur are willing to let go of one of their senior attackers before the January transfer window closes, according to a report.
Spurs have invested in their frontline in every transfer window since Antonio Conte has been at the club. Last January, they brought in Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus. In the summer, they added Richarlison from Everton, before luring in Arnaut Danjuma from Villarreal this month.
Now, Conte has plenty of options to pick from up front. Perhaps it it little wonder that only Arsenal and Manchester City have scored more goals than them in the Premier League so far this season.
But after all the activity in terms of arrivals, Tottenham have been working out who will have to make way from their current squad as a consequence.
One player who is almost certain to leave in 2023 is Lucas Moura. The 30-year-old is into the final six months of his contract, which Tottenham have opted not to renew.
Moura has been attracting interest from a number of clubs as he searches for the next step in his career. By the end of the season, he will be able to secure a free transfer to whichever suitor he prefers.
But a recent report from The Sun has revealed that Tottenham are actually prepared to sell Moura before the January 31 transfer deadline.
They may not be able to generate a large transfer fee given his age and contract status, but could clear some space on the wage bill and allow him to find somewhere he can get more gametime.
According to the report, Moura has admirers at Everton, Southampton and Crystal Palace.
All three are currently in the bottom half of the Premier League. Everton and Southampton are especially in danger of relegation since they are in the bottom three as things stand.
Reinforcing their squads in January could enable them to improve their fortunes in the second half of the season. Moura is someone who might appeal due to his pedigree and Premier League experience.
Wage demand makes Lucas Moura a risk despite his ability
However, there is one off-putting piece of information. The report claims that Moura is holding out for a wage worth £150,000 per week in his next contract.
Tottenham did not feel that was good value for money, hence their decision to move him on. But what the other clubs think could be another matter.
The Sun suggests that Moura still has a chance of signing a contract of that value because his suitors might find it difficult to identify alternatives at this stage of the transfer window.
Hence, his agent could be busy in the next 48 hours or so ahead of the transfer deadline.
Lucas has played in 11 matches for Tottenham’s first team this season, but has not started any of his eight Premier League cameos. On Friday, he even ended up playing for their under-21 team.
Across his whole Tottenham career, the Brazilian winger has contributed 38 goals from 213 games. But they are no longer reliant on him, so it makes sense for them to go their separate ways.
Still only 30, though, the former Paris Saint-Germain star should have something left in the tank. His admirers must decide if he is worth the money he is asking for, though, especially while some of them risk relegation.
After the sale of Anthony Gordon to Newcastle, it is easy to see why Everton might want Moura, for example. But it could be a disaster if they go down to the Championship with players on wages around the amount Moura is hoping for.
Therefore, clubs will have to get clever in their negotiations, possibly considering certain clauses. Alternatively, they could have such great faith in Moura to believe he could help them avoid such a fate.
It would be a bit of a risk, though, so the clubs who like him must tread with caution. His talent certainly isn’t the topic in question here, rather his financial demands.
Source: teamtalk
