The Portuguese international midfielder Joao Moutinho has been linked with a transfer to the Premier League all summer long after impressing for Portugal in Euro 2012, and it seems that Tottenham, poised to make more than one big signing on the last day of the transfer window, are quite close to signing him.
There’s no official confirmation yet, but it looks like that Porto, somewhat of a feeder club for the bigger clubs of Europe once every couple of seasons, and Spurs, maybe thanks to the good relations with Andre Villas-Boas and his past achievements with the Portuguese champions, have agreed to a yet undisclosed fee (£20-25 is what I’m hearing) for the transfer of the midfielder.
Moutinho, 25, was immediately linked to Manchester United once the Euro was over, but nothing came of it. United chased Lucas Moura and Robin van Persie, eventually only managing to sign the Dutchman from Arsenal while the Brazilian midfielder ended up with PSG for a ridiculous sum of €45 million.
Tottenham have approached Porto about the player only this week, as Tottenham have failed to win a match after two Premier League performances and are getting a bit testy about the lack of a really big signing, to show they’re not just talking big but actually planning on having a great season with a Champions League ticket and maybe more waiting at the end of the road.
Moutinho was coached by Villas-Boas in the 2010-2011, his first with Porto after six seasons with Sporting CP. He has played 55 times for the champions in two seasons, scoring 3 league goals, adding 13 assists. He won the Primeira Liga title of the last two seasons, and the UEFA Europa League title in 2011, under Villas-Boas. He has also made 48 appearances for the national side, scoring two goals, playing with the Portuguese squad in Euro 2008 and Euro 2012.