Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes has claimed that he did agree a deal to join Tottenham over the summer, but that his current employers blocked the move.
The 24-year-old was linked with a move to Spurs for much of the summer, with journalist Goncalo Lopes even going as far as to claim that personal term had been agreed at one point.
And Fernandes has seemingly confirmed that report to be true.
“I never made any big demands, my manager was always dealing with the financials. It was and is my goal to play in England, Sporting you know that, everyone knows that, and there were conditions for things to be done.
“But Sporting understood that the value was not enough and I have to respect the decision.”
What would Fernandes have brought to Tottenham?
On the face of it, you would probably have to say an awful lot.
The Portuguese international was one of the most highly sought after players in Europe this summer, and it’s easy to see why.
Last year he managed 20 goals and 13 assists in the Portuguese top flight alone, and did so at a rate of 3.6 shots on goal per game, as well as managing 3.2 key passes, as per Whoscored.
This season has started at a similarly electric pace, with 3.3 shots on goal and 3.7 key passes, as well as one goal and four assists in the first three matches of his league campaign.
He is a dangerous and forward thinking midfielder with a creativity and selflessness that seem to be perfectly balanced.
Every team in the world would be lucky to have a player like him.
Could a deal be resurrected?
Theoretically, yes.
Fernandes is still at Sporting, but you can’t help feeling that he cannot spend the rest of his career in his home country, purely because he is too talented.
If he did agree personal terms with Spurs, and it would be a weird thing to lie about, then there must be some desire on his part to join the club, and if Daniel Levy went back in with a better offer, perhaps this could be a goer.
A large part of Spurs’ interest will probably depend on whether or not they keep hold of Christian Eriksen.
With his 2.4 shots on goal and 2.1 key passes per match last season, as per Whoscored, Eriksen is very much to Spurs what Fernandes is to Sporting.
There are few players in Europe who could effectively replace the Dane, but Fernandes could well be one of them.
Of course, Mauricio Pochettino does have Giovanni Lo Celso to call on, but it depends on whether or not he wants to build strength and depth in creative areas, especially at the exorbitant price that Fernandes would no doubt demand.
