Club reject first Tottenham bid for Brazilian forward – Spurs not ready to give up just yet

Back on Wednesday, Goal Brasil published a story saying Porto winger Pepê was in talks for a move to the Premier League.

The English side’s name wasn’t revealed, with the story only claiming that there were negotiations for the move.

It turns out that as Goal Brasil now comes back with an update, they say it’s Tottenham who are in talks for the 26-year-old.

This new story actually claims that Porto turned down Spurs’ first offer for the player, as the Dragons rejected the payment formula.

It’s said that Tottenham are not going to give up on the signing, though, and could make a new attempt before the end of the summer window.

Spurs’ interest in Pepê isn’t exactly new, and even reports from Brazil already said the club were in touch for the signing.

The problem is that, according to those previous stories, Porto were using the player’s €75m release clause as a price tag for a summer move, which was quite obviously a problem for clubs.

Pepê is originally an offensive winger, but has been showing versatility and ended up getting very much used as a right-back by Porto, although we doubt that will be his position should he sign for Ange Postecoglou.

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Arsenal are considering a move for Torino centre-back Perr Schuurs as they look to cover Jurrien Timber’s injury, according to reports.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta admitted it was a “huge blow” to lose Timber to injury in their opening day Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest.

The Netherlands international has torn his ACL and will be missing for a number of months with Arsenal now ready to go back into the transfer market to cover his injury.

“Huge blow,” the Spanish manager told reporters last week. “Especially for him after just joining the club. We recruited him with clear intentions and what he was bringing to the team was evident.

“I’m more thinking about the resources in the team to do what we want to do. But it’s true he was giving us a lot on both sides.

“We are always open and we have to be open as well to the injuries but also to react to the market. It’s never my decision. It’s a lot of people. My focus is on getting the best out of the squad right now. That’s my aim.”

READ MORE: Transfer gossip: Greenwood ruins £34m Manchester United move, Arsenal’s £100m ‘hope’

Various defenders have been linked as potential cover and now Italian publication La Stampa insist Torino defender Schuurs is on their list of targets.

It is claimed that Arsenal are ‘thinking of Schuurs’ with Arteta viewing the Dutchman as a potential ‘solution’ to the Timber problem.

Former Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre thinks Gunners trio Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli all need to “increase their output by 20 per cent” this season to win the Premier League title.

Speaking to bettingexpert.com, Silvestre said: “Eddie [Nketiah] demonstrated last season that he can respond and play to the level where he can score and be a good finisher in front of goal.

“He has the qualities and fits into the philosophy. He moves well, understands positions he needs to take up in the offence, and he is calm in front of goal.

“He’s coming to that age where he’s starting to understand the role better than he used to.

“I think last season towards the end, the goals dried up, so I think if they (Saka, Martinelli and Ødegaard) can all increase their output by 20%, then they’d be on top of Manchester City.

“It’s important that your main goalscorer and threats on the pitch deliver and score goals, so all together, they all need to step up for the crucial games.”