A Tottenham delegation has jetted out to south America on a transfer mission to wrap up the signing of Boca Juniors midfielder Wilmar Barrios, according to El Crack Deportivo.
The Argentine media outlet claim Spurs “emissaries” watched the Colombia international in action for Boca against Palmeiras this week and are ready to pay £20.4 million to sign him in the January window.
El Crack report Barrios’ agent has agreed the terms of the deal with Tottenham and the final details of the contract are being finalised as Barrios packs his suitcase to head to England.
OPINION
There is a strong sense that Tottenham’s priority is to recruit a midfield anchorman in the winter window after a fallow summer in which they broke Premier League records by signing no-one. With Mousa Dembele ageing before the eyes of supporters and Victor Wanyama a shadow of the colossus who was so dominant in his first season in Lilywhite, Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff will be only too aware of the need for someone who win the ball and launch attacks in the centre of the pitch. Barrios is a proven player with plenty of top-level experience for club and country. He shone for Colombia at the World Cup and has been a key player for Argentine outfit Boca since joining in 2016, including in the high-level Copa Libertadores. He has spoken in the past of a move to Europe and it appears that a deal with Tottenham is getting closer. Barrios has never played in the Premier League and would have to acclimatise, but could provide the powerful and mobile energiser in the middle the team are crying out for.