Tottenham are edging closer to a first signing under Jose Mourinho after Gedson Fernandes completed a medical in London on Monday.
The 21-year-old has agreed an 18-month loan with Spurs, with an option to make the deal permanent for around £55million in summer 2021.
The deal could be agreed before the FA Cup third-round replay against Middlesbrough, although Fernandes would be ineligible to play.
The Portugal international, who had fallen out of favour at Benfica, chose the north London club over West Ham, having been offered to Spurs by super-agent Jorge Mendes, who represents Mourinho.
The Spurs manager is desperate to sign cover for Moussa Sissoko and Harry Kane this month, with the duo both expected to be sidelined until April after undergoing surgery on injuries sustained at Southampton on New Year's Day
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Like Sissoko, Fernandes, who has won two caps for his country and has a £102million release clause in his Benfica contract, is a box-to-box midfielder and is the latest player to emerge from an academy that has produced the likes of Joao Felix, Ederson and Bernardo Silva in recent seasons.
Asked about Fernandes ahead of Tuesday's match at home to Boro, Mourinho said: "I am waiting for news but when I say I am waiting, news can come or no. Again I’m more worried about Middlesbrough than with the market. Of course with the rules even if we get a player you cannot play him in a reply, the players who can play are the ones were legally ready for the first game, so that's why in this moment I am not interested in Gedson or in any other possible players who could come."
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy remains eager to sell Christian Eriksen this month although Standard Sport understands he has not agreed a deal with any other club, although his representatives remain in talks with Inter Milan.
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