Man City reportedly made a ‘last hour approach’ to sign Pedro Porro from Sporting Lisbon before the wing-back joined Tottenham Hotspur on deadline day.
Spurs pursued Porro throughout the January transfer window. They were keen to bring him in as they viewed the right wing-back as an upgrade on Emerson Royal, Matt Doherty and Djed Spence.
Porro had a €43m release clause in his contract at Sporting Lisbon and they made it clear that he would only leave if this was activated.
Talks looked to be progressing well but it was reported on Monday that the deal was ‘off’ after Sporting Lisbon ‘reneged’ on the terms of the transfer.
Though Tottenham and Sporting managed to ‘resolve issues’ and complete the transfer before Tuesday night’s transfer deadline.
Portuguese outlet Record (via Sport Witness) are reporting that Porro could have ended up joining Man City instead. The Premier League champions made a ‘last hour approach’ to sign the defender.
Though it is stated that the defender has ‘already committed’ to Tottenham and he ‘didn’t even hesitate’ when this new offer came in. Everton will be wondering why Arnaut Danjuma didn’t do the same thing…
Porro ‘wanted to keep his word’ so he did not consider a move to Man City. This would have been welcomed by Sporting Lisbon, as Pep Guardiola’s side could have got themselves a bargain by signing him for €23m as part of a buy-back option.
Man City considered this transfer hijack after Joao Cancelo left to join Bayern Munich on loan. The talented defender was reportedly ‘unhappy’ under Guardiola with him not featuring much in recent weeks.
Guardiola refused to “say one bad word” about Cancelo during his press conference on Friday.
“Firstly I wish him the best for the rest of the season, this four months. Next season I don’t know what will happen,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.
“He has been an incredible figure in the last two Premier Leagues we won but after the World Cup we made a ‘pre-season’ and started to play in a different way in some patterns.
“I liked what I watched and I decided to give more time to players who I saw on the pitch who liked it.
“He is one of the players who trains the best but in this situation he didn’t play much in the last two or three games.
“We cannot say he didn’t play much (at all) because in the last years he was one of the players with the most minutes by far, (but) he is a guy who needs to play to be happy and we decided together, all three parties, to let him go to Munich.
“Bayern Munich wanted him because he’s beyond an exceptional player. I won’t say one bad word about him.
“I think his work ethic, love for football, passion, his quality and skills… what can I say? Everyone knows it.”
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