Prolific La Liga striker turns down Arsenal to join Tottenham - report

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Published on:

22 Jun 2016, 4:22 am

By Harvey Byrne

Roma striker Antonio Sanabria has rejected a move to Arsenal in favour of a switch to Tottenham, according to a report.

The Sky Sports website, citing Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, claim the 20-year-old has turned down a deal with Arsene Wenger's team to move to White Hart Lane.

It is said that Roma want £11.5million for Sanabria after Tottenham reached an agreement in principle with the player.

Football Insider reported earlier this month that Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino had personally rang Sanabria to inform him of the north London club's interest.

Spurs are now set for negotiations with Roma over a transfer fee for the striker as Pochettino steps up plans to recruit a new front man.

As reported by Football Insider, Tottenham want to provide back-up for star striker Harry Kane, with Marseille's Michy Batshuayi reported to be top of their transfer target list but there is a possibility that two new forwards could be signed this summer.

Sanabria spent the 2015-16 season on loan at Spanish club Sporting Gijon from Roma, where he scored an impressive 11 goals in 29 La Liga appearances.

Sanabria won his first cap for Paraguay at the age of 17, and has since gone on to earn eight senior caps in total.

The South American has been tipped to have a big future in the game and football giants Barcelona, where he started in the 'B' team in 2013, are also said to be interested. He has also been linked with newly crowned Premier League champions Leicester before.

Pochettino has been known at both Southampton and Tottenham to give young players a chance, and this could help attract the young striker to London.

In other Tottenham transfer news, the club have secured a landmark deal costing £28million.

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