Tottenham are “closing in” on a loan move for Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos, according to the Daily Star.
The Spaniard is understood to have told sources close to him that he would favour a move to London over a potential switch to AC Milan after Mauricio Pochettino personally guaranteed him first-team football.
The 22-year-old still sees his long term future in the Spanish capital but is believed to be seeking about 40 matches a season – a figure that Pochettino would be happy to allow.
OPINION
What a signing this would be. Ceballos is a star in waiting, and all he needs is the right opportunity and the backing to really kick on and take that next step. The Spaniard has been in sublime form recently, registering a pass completion rate of 92% over the past 12 months, as well as making 1.3 key passes per match [Whoscored]. In the U21 European Championship, a competition that Spain won, that number shot up to 2.8 key passes per match, and his 3.6 successful dribbles and 3 shots per game showed just how much of a live wire he can be [Whoscored]. All in all, this would be a fantastic move were it to come off. Ceballos is ready for the next stage of his career, Pochettino can give it to him, and who’s to say that a loan deal won’t become something more permanent further down the line? Spurs should try to wrap this one up, pronto.