Pundit compares Spurs’ January transfer failure to Willian deal

Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills has compared Tottenham Hotspur’s failure to sign Luis Diaz to their inability to land Willian.

Willian was due to join Tottenham in 2013 when travelled to England for a medical in 2013 after agreeing in principle to a move to North London from Anzhi Makhachkala, only to sign for rivals Chelsea despite undergoing his medical check-up with Spurs (Football.London).

Tottenham suffered similar frustration in the January transfer market with Luis Diaz, when the Porto winger ended up completing a switch to Liverpool.

The Athletic claimed earlier this week that Tottenham had a signed agreement in place with the Portuguese side and the 25-year-old was keen on the move, having agreed terms only for the involvement of super-agent Jorge Mendes to cause a delay to the switch and allowed Liverpool to strike a deal.

Mills believes that Tottenham have missed out on a good player and questioned whether their inability to complete the transfer for the player was their own fault.

He told Football Insider: “It’s a very strange one.

“It’s a bit like the Willian deal. That was half an hour before the deadline when everything was done and dusted for Spurs then all of sudden Chelsea had knicked him because Tottenham were messed about with fees.

“Is that Tottenham standing firm and saying they’re not going to pay it or is it them being a little bit daft. They’ve lost out on a very good player, cutting their nose off to spite the face. It’s probably the latter.

“I’m pretty sure Conte thought the deal was done and dusted and was looking forward to the player. All of a sudden, he’s gone to a rival.”

SpursWeb Opinion

The Luis Diaz ‘nearly’ signing is just the latest chapter in a long list of players who were said to have been on the verge of joining the club in recent years including Jack Grealish and Bruno Fernandes.

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