Exclusive: Tottenham now in talks to bring rare player to N17 in January with £20.7m fee already agreed

TBR Football understand Tottenham are currently in talks to bring the Johnny Cardoso agreement forward.

Spurs are planning to make reinforcements during the January transfer window after discovering just how thin the squad really is across the last few weeks.

Ange Postecoglou confirmed as much in his press Christmas Eve press conference ahead of the Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, with the Guardian quoting the Australian as saying: “We will try and reinforce. Where and what number we’ll have to wait and see.

“You don’t just want to panic and bring in anybody that you don’t think will help our cause in the back half of the year, but I think we’ve already shown we are pretty methodical and prudent about our work. We’ll make sure we’ll bring somebody in who is going to help us.”

There is certainly work to be done as Tottenham sit 11th in the Premier League.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
11	TottenhamTottenham	17	7	2	8	39	25	14	23

Now – according to TBR Football‘s Chief Correspondent Graeme Bailey – Spurs are exploring a deal to bring Johnny Cardoso to N17 in January.

Tottenham and Real Betis holding Johnny Cardoso discussions

When selling Giovani Lo Celso, who is outscoring Jude Bellingham, to Real Betis in an £8.4m deal back in August, Tottenham also struck an agreement which gives them a €25m (£20.7m) option to buy Cardoso.

The United States international was expected to spend the 2024/25 campaign with Real Betis, before Spurs made a decision on whether to active this purchase clause in the summer.

Now – however – TBR Football understand Tottenham are in talks to sign the Real Betis No.4 much sooner than the summer, with a January deal being explored as we speak.

Spurs feel the 23-year-old’s mobility and presence as a holding midfielder would provide Postecoglou with something he is currently lacking in the centre of the pitch.

Sources inform TBR Football that the north Londoners have scouted Cardoso five times in the last six weeks, including his last two appearances which came in a 2-1 win over Villarreal and a 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano.

The fee is expected to remain at £20.7m if a January agreement does materialise.

In total, Cardoso has made 19 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring one goal and providing one assist.

What type of player is Johnny Cardoso?

This £20.7m agreement has the potential to be a tremendous bit of business from Tottenham.

The man born in Denville is almost Rodri-like in the way that he dominates all that enters his No.6 role on the pitch, showing great physical capabilities as well as impressive technical ability.

In fact, The Athletic have even described Cardoso as a “rare combination of physicality, intelligence and grace” – exciting stuff.