Sporting Lisbon's president has confirmed that the Portuguese giants rejected a £58million offer from Tottenham for Bruno Fernandes due to the 'difficult' structure of the offer.
Fernandes was heavily linked with a host of clubs during the summer transfer window, with Manchester United and Real Madrid reportedly interested in the Portugal international.
Spurs were also considering the midfielder with Christian Eriksen's future at the club uncertain, though the Danish playmaker ended up staying in north London as his preferred move to Spain failed to materialise.
Spurs signed a potential long-term replacement for Eriksen in Giovani Lo Celso, but Sporting president Frederico Varandas claims that the Premier League side also wanted to add Fernandes to their ranks.
The Portugal international has revealed he agreed terms with Spurs but Varandas claims their bid, worth a total of €65m (£58m), included clauses he felt unable to accept.
"It was 'impossible' to retain Bruno Fernandes, but we did it," Varandas told Sporting's official website.
"We prepared for his sale by putting a fair price on his worth, and we had bids, but only a serious offer from Tottenham that was 45m euros plus 20m in add-ons; winning the Premier League and the Champions League.
"Finding these add-ons difficult, I decided not to accept."
