Tottenham Hotspur are weighing up a move for the Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi, who is surplus to requirement at the Bernabéu. The north London club want to sign a commanding defensive midfielder and they also have an interest in Southampton’s Victor Wanyama.
Southampton, though, are adamant that Wanyama will not be sold and Tottenham are looking at other options, including Illarramendi, the 25-year-old Spaniard, who joined Madrid from Real Sociedad in 2013 for £23m.
Sociedad want Illarramendi back and they are the favourites to get him before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline. But the Basque club would prefer to take him on loan while Madrid want a permanent deal, which could open the door to wealthier clubs from England – Liverpool have also been linked with Illarramendi, who is valued at £15m. His weekly wage is £50,000.
Illarramendi has struggled at Madrid and he was not included by Rafael Benítez in the matchday squad for Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Sporting Gijón on the opening weekend of La Liga. The new manager named Mateo Kovacic, the £30m signing from Internazionale, and Casemiro, who has returned from a loan at Porto, on the substitutes’ bench ahead of him.
Mauricio Pochettino, the Tottenham manager, has used Eric Dier in defensive midfield so far this season. Dier’s natural position is centre-half while he has also played at right-back.
Meanwhile, West Bromwich Albion have confirmed that they have rejected a second bid from Tottenham for Saido Berahino, believed to be in the region of £22m.
Spurs offered £18m for the forward last week, shortly before Berahino was omitted from the West Brom squad that lost 3-2 to Chelsea on Sunday. He handed in a transfer request 24 hours later, which was rejected by the club. They have now made further clear their determination to hold onto the forward.
“Our position remains unchanged,” said Jeremy Peace, the West Brom chairman in a statement on the club’s official website. “The sale of this player is not on our agenda.”
Tottenham are expected to try again, with an offer of £25m likely to give Peace cause for more serious thought.
