OPINION
Tottenham transfer target Wilmar Barrios has revealed that he is delaying a move until January in what will be a blow to Mauricio Pochettino’s summer plans – with Mousa Dembele’s future in doubt.
Speaking to Brazilian publication Clarin, the 24-year-old enforcer confirmed he will not leave Boca Juniors until after the Copa Libertadores, meaning a January move, rather than one over the coming months, will be on the cards.
He said to Clarin: “If something arrives it will be analysed and the idea is that I will leave after the Libertadores.
“Today I have my mind set on Boca , on working and on helping the team for what is coming, then let’s see what happens – to meet with my representative and the president.”
Barrios – who represented Colombia at this summer’s World Cup, where they crashed out in the last 16 to England on penalties – has committed himself to playing in South America’s equivalent of the Champions League, and it is not the news Tottenham boss Pochettino would have wanted.
He would have been hoping to acquire the services of Barrios before the start of the upcoming season, in order to be at full strength for their first game of the new Premier League campaign.
Instead, with Dembele a potential exit between now and the end of the summer, the Argentine boss could rely on Eric Dier as his sole midfield enforcer following this twist – unless he looks elsewhere.
Patience will help them secure Barrios’ signing, but when the club’s title hopes could be over before Christmas, time is not something that is on Pochettino’s side.
Whether he keeps faith with the pursuit of the Boca man or whether he looks elsewhere remains to be seen, but it is another setback as the summer window heads towards closing.