Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy could be about to repeat one of his worst transfer mistakes in recent times...

What's the word?

It's well known that Sporting CP right wing-back Pedro Porro is a key "priority" for the north London outfit this month, as revealed by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

Newspaper reports in Portugal (via Sport Witness) have since emerged suggesting that Spurs are some way off matching the Eagles' demands, which is thought to be his release clause of €45m (£40m).

It remains to be seen what the Lilywhites hierarchy have been offering behind the scenes but they face competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea and are running out of time with as little as two weeks left in the window.

Bruno Fernandes all over again

A few years ago, Tottenham were faced with a similar scenario with the same club, one that has since proven to be a total disaster.

In the summer of 2019. Spurs were rivalling Manchester United for the signature of Bruno Fernandes but Levy and co only offered €45m (£40m) upfront with €20m (£18m) coming in the form of unrealistic add-ons that would only be triggered if they won the Premier League and Champions League.

Sporting president Frederico Varandas led the talks then, just as he is now, and commented on the absurd offer from the Lilywhites (via Sport Witness).

“The only serious proposal, which was still only verbal, was a €45m bid from Tottenham for Bruno Fernandes, plus €20m in goals.

“Twenty million in goals which were about Tottenham becoming the Premier League winners, which they never were, and winning the Champions League, which has also never happened. So I found these goals extremely imposs…. difficult to accomplish. And I understood not to sell Bruno.”

Since then, we've seen what the Portuguese playmaker can do in the Premier League and in Europe, having provided 54 goals and 44 assists across 152 appearances for the Red Devils - after they agreed on a deal worth £68m.

This time, it seems as if Spurs are toying with a much lesser fee, which would be a rather disappointing decision as Porro would undoubtedly transform a key role for Conte.

Once described as a "special talent" by journalist Zach Lowry, the former Manchester City gem is an attacking machine, ranking inside the top 1% for all wing-backs in FBref's 'next eight' divisions for total shots, assists, shot-creating actions and touches in the opposition box.

With Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty clearly unfancied in the long-term by the Italian head coach, understandably so given they cannot match such numbers, it's perhaps little surprise to see Romano laud the Sporting star as "perfect" for Conte and his system.

As such, Levy must use the Fernandes saga as a cold reminder of his past blunders and subsequently sanction what Sporting are asking for, which isn't a lot in the modern market.

AND in other news, Spurs eye Conte's perfect Deki alternative in £52m "generational talent"...