Last minute January transfers: London clubs look to strengthen as the deadline approaches
Pedro Porro (23)
From Sporting CP to Tottenham
Antonio Conte wants and needs to strenghten the side if Spurs are to climb from the 5th place and challenge for top four and the Champions League. They identified Spanish right back Porro as the key addition this January and have been in heated negotiations with Sporting for some time now. Porro was a Manchester City player between 2019 and 2022, but never made a single appearance for the Citizens, being immediately loaned to Spanish side Valladolid and then Sporting before the green-and-whites made the move permanent.
According to the latest reports, Sporting are re-negotiating conditions of the deal with Tottenham, after the London club already booked medicals for the player. They also want to sign a replacement if they are to let Porro go. Brighton's Tariq Lamptey was initally identified as Sporting's target, but now it seems that transfer is off and Sporting are trying to bring in Hector Bellerin on loan. The former Arsenal player is desperate for game time at Barcelona, making just three LaLiga appearances this season.
Moises Caicedo (21)
Roberto De Zerbi might lose another key but unhappy player to Arsenal. After Belgian winger Leandro Trossard made the switch earlier this month, the Gunners also pointed their finger at 21-year-old Ecuador central midfielder Moises Caicedo. They want the youngster to bolster their midfield where they currently count on the experienced duo of Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey.
Caicedo has issued a statement, publicly saying he wants to make the move. "I am the youngest of 10 siblings from a poor upbringing in Santa Domingo in Ecuador. My dream always to be the most decorated player in the history of Ecuador. I am proud to be able to bring in a record transfer fee for Brighton which would allow them to reinvest it and help the club continue to be successful," he wrote.
But it looks like it's going to take quite some convincing for The Seagulls to let the midfielder go. Arsenal have seen their second bid, worth 70 million pounds with add-ons, rejected. There is still time to get the deal done, however, and make Caicedo the most expensive player Brighton have ever sold - just half a year after Marc Cucurella's sale to Chelsea set the bar at 62 million pounds including add-ons.
Enzo Fernandez (22)
Speaking of Chelsea - it wouldn't be an article about transfers if we didn't mention a player Todd Boehly's high-spending Blues are trying to get. The young midfielder played a key part in Argertina's World Cup winning run and Chelsea lead a long list of clubs trying to convince Benfica to sell him.
Just half a year after the Portuguese club pocketed 80 million euros for the sale of Darwin Nunez to Liverpool, they are now looking to get north of 100 million for the young Argentinian. Keeping in mind they bought him for just 14 million euros from River Plate last summer. That would be another incredible piece of business from Benfica.
According to Record in Portugal, the player himself can't wait for his transfer saga to be over and hopes that Benfica accept the deal. Chelsea, who haven't really shied away from spending big lately, are willing to pay a large sum now and are pressing Benfica to come to an agreement in order to avoid having to fight off other wealthy clubs in the summer. As things stand, the offer on the table is 120 million euros.
