Luis Diaz: Tottenham left bruised and embarrassed after source reveal – it was Willian all over again
Danny Mills has claimed Tottenham suffered a transfer embarrassment in January akin to their failed pursuit of Willian in the summer of 2013.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Leeds United and England full-back delivered his verdict after an update on Spurs’ attempts to sign Luis Diaz.
A recruitment source told Football Insider on Wednesday (2 February) Tottenham signed an agreement with Porto for a £50million late-window deal for Diaz.
The move collapsed due to arguments over a row over agents allowing Liverpool to swoop and sign the player for a similar fee.
Diaz was keen on the switch and he was only a signature away from completing a move to north London.
“It’s a very strange one,” Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“It’s a bit like the Willian deal. That was half an hour before the deadline when everything was done and dusted for Spurs then all of sudden Chelsea had knicked him because Tottenham were messed about with fees.
“Is that Tottenham standing firm and saying they’re not going to pay it or is it them being a little bit daft. They’ve lost out on a very good player, cutting their nose off to spite the face. It’s probably the latter.
“I’m pretty sure Conte thought the deal was done and dusted and was looking forward to the player. All of a sudden, he’s gone to a rival.”
Willian had completed a medical at Spurs back in September 2013 only to sign for Chelsea.
The Blues hijacked the deal at the last minute and he went on to play 339 games in a seven-year spell at Stamford Bridge.
In other news, Tottenham had an approach for a £70million-valued star rejected and Fabio Paratici will return in the summer.