Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a move to sign Maxi Araujo this summer, and a new update has revealed what Sporting Lisbon’s stance is on the left-back.
The summer transfer window is drawing closer, but Tottenham’s primary focus for the moment is on ensuring their Premier League survival.
However, the club have started making tentative plans for the upcoming transfer window, which will be Roberto De Zerbi’s first in charge of the club.
It has been widely reported over the last week that Tottenham are eyeing a summer move for Sporting Lisbon star Maxi Araujo, as they look to strengthen at left-back.
In fact, Spurs have regularly made scouting trips to Portugal to watch the Sporting left-back, but their pursuit of the 26-year-old may be about to get a lot harder.
Sporting Lisbon working on new contract for Tottenham target Maxi Araujo
According to a report in Record (as relayed by Sport Witness), amidst the growing interest in the Uruguay international, Sporting have started working on renewing the player’s contract.
Even though Araujo’s current deal runs until 2029, the Portuguese club want to extend it and are prepared to offer the defender a pay rise.
They are doing this in an attempt to stay one step ahead of the left-back’s suitors, as they look to ward off interest in the player.
The outlet backs up what other sources have said over recent weeks by naming Spurs and Chelsea as the two Premier League clubs showing the keenest interest in the Sporting star.
Araujo’s asking price revealed after left-back hinted at next destination
Record say that the interest in the 26-year-old is not restricted to the Premier League, with Juventus, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid also tracking the player.
The outlet claims that while Araujo has a release clause of €80m (£69m) in his contract, the expectation is that offers above €40m (£34.5m) would need to be made to open the door to the negotiations.
However, the Spurs target has already hinted that he wants to move to the Premier League. Ahead of Uruguay’s clash against the Three Lions last month, Argujo said he hopes the match is his “first of many” in England.