Santos chief says Souza is Spurs-bound as January gears up

Tottenham’s January is warming up nicely. Santos president Marcelo Teixeira has gone on record in Brazil to say teenage left-back Souza is heading to North London, the latest piece in a window where Spurs have already brought in Conor Gallagher for £35m from Atletico Madrid. With Thomas Frank being backed before the February 2 cut-off, this is a club moving with purpose.

Souza deal all but sealed

The agreement between Tottenham and Santos is understood to be in the region of £13m for the 19-year-old, and the move is essentially in the home straight. Journalist Alasdair Gold has indicated the player has completed his medical, and it’s now a case of the paperwork catching up — no small matter when you’re transferring a South American prospect mid-season.

At roughly £13m, this looks sharp business: low risk, high ceiling, and exactly the sort of proactive squad building Spurs fans have been crying out for. A young, athletic left-back who can be developed in-house is a tidy addition as the fixtures stack up.

Why it’s taken longer than Gallagher

Although Spurs reached an agreement for Souza before moving for Gallagher, the timelines diverged. Once the deal with Santos was struck, a medical had to be arranged around international travel and then the finer points of a cross-continental transfer needed to be rubber-stamped. That admin grind explains why Gallagher’s switch crossed the line first.

Santos finances: fee earmarked to steady the ship

Teixeira has been refreshingly candid about where Tottenham’s money is going. Speaking to ESPN Brazil, he outlined that the incoming cash will be used to stabilise the books, settle debts and avoid any further FIFA sanctions. He referenced the dispute involving Joao Basso, with Arouca seeking payment of around €2.6m, and noted Santos have already shelled out roughly R$130m related to transfer bans in 2024. Crucially, he stressed these liabilities stem from previous regimes rather than the current administration.

Forward focus next

Once Souza is rubber-stamped, attention shifts to adding firepower for Frank. The need for another attacker was arguable even before Mohammed Kudus’ injury tightened the market, and it’s only become more pressing as the window ticks down.

RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande has admirers at Spurs, but an £87m price tag and a firm mid-season “not for sale” stance makes that a long shot. A more pragmatic play is Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche. PA’s George Sessions suggested this week the Monaco winger is the likeliest wide signing if Spurs decide to push, with Monaco already scoping potential replacements.

Pundit’s verdict

Put simply, Tottenham are acting like a club with a plan. Secure a high-upside full-back for sensible money, then pivot to a winger/forward with pace to stretch defences. Get those two through the door and Frank’s options look markedly healthier for the run-in.

For those tracking the market swings and odds this month, our rundown of the best betting sites is a handy companion as the window ebbs and flows.