Tottenham are ready to pay the £22million release clause needed to sign Porto right-back Ricardo Pereira, according to Portugese publication Sabado.
The outlet in Pereira’s homeland claim Spurs are expected to meet the full buy-out price needed to land Pereira in this summer’s transfer window.
Sabada report that Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has closely followed the 23-year-old for the last two years and has identified him as his number one target to replace Kyle Walker.
It is said that it is “inevitable” that Walker will join Manchester City in the coming weeks, necessitating the requirement for the north Londoners to secure a top-class replacement.
Pereira, 23, joined Porto from Portugese minnows Vitoria Guimaraes in 2013 but he has played just 34 games for the club, before joining Nice for the first of two seasons on loan in 2015.
The two-times Portugal international is back at his parent club after making a big impression at the Ligue 1 outfit, where he has been a mainstay of the team.
Like Walker, Pereira is renowned for his great athleticism and speed, which make him a major attacking threat on the right flank from his defensive position.
Walker, who moved to White Hart Lane from boyhood club Sheffield United in 2009, lost his regular Spurs starting place at the end of 2016-17 as speculation intensified about his future and his form dipped.
Nevertheless, the England international was named by his peers in the PFA Premier League team of the season and is widely regarded as one of Europe’s outstanding right-backs.
He was also in the England team that drew 2-2 in their World Cup qualifier against Scotland on Saturday evening, ahead of his White Hart Lane teammate Kieran Trippier.
