Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly on the verge of agreeing a deal to bring in Ismail Azzaoui from Belgian giants R.S.C. Anderlecht.
According to reports, Azzaoui, 16, has turned down a contract offer from the Jupiler Pro League giants in favour of securing a move to the English top-flight.
Anderlecht — the Southampton of Belgium — are infamous for developing young talent, having groomed Adnan Januzaj before he joined Manchester United in 2011.
“When players become 16 we offer them a development plan and later a financial plan. We aren’t going to change our way of working,” Anderlecht head of youth development Jean Kindermans told Het Laatste Niuws, as per Sky Sports.
“We’ve heard Spurs are interested in Azzaoui and it’s the player’s right to make a choice.
“We regret he’s going to be leaving us, but you can’t compare this loss to Adnan Januzaj’s move to Manchester United a few years ago.”
Spurs — priced at 17/2 to win the UEFA Europa League this season — have three Belgian stars (Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele and Nacer Chadli) in their first-team at the moment, with Azzaoui ever-so close to making it a quartet.
The North Londoners are scheduled to travel to Stamford Bridge to face Jose Mourinho’s in-form Chelsea on Saturday.
Chelsea (8/13); Tottenham (11/2); Draw (37/13)
William Carvalho talks up Sporting CP exit
Sporting CP midfielder William Carvalho has revealed he could leave the Estádio José Alvalade in favour of pastures new in the summer transfer window.
Carvalho — who has a massive £37.5 million release clause in his current contract, which expires in the summer of 2018 — is attracting interest from a host of top European clubs, including the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid.
The Angola-born Portugal international, 21, made his debut for Paulo Bento’s side in the second leg of the 2014 FIFA World Cup playoffs against Sweden, replacing Fenerbahçe midfielder Raul Meireles after 73 minutes.
“It’s nice being praised and to know there are some big clubs interested in me,” said Carvalho.
When asked about his future, the Portugal international added: “It could be Manchester United or Real Madrid. It’s just nice to have a great European club after me, but at the moment I’m just totally focused on Sporting and doing my best until the end of the season.
“At the end of the campaign, we will see what happens.”
Carvalho, who spent six months on loan at Portuguese third-tier side C.D. Fátima in 2011 and one-and-a-half seasons at Belgian side Cercle Brugge K.S.V. between 2012 and 2013, has scored two goals in 20 Primeira Liga appearances for Sporting this season.
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