Tottenham Hotspur may have signed their two top transfer targets this summer in Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso, but they were looking at other targets as well. One of those targets was Sporting Lisbon attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who was closely linked to Tottenham, but ended up staying at Sporting.

There were reports swirling in the days and weeks before the English window closed that Spurs had agreed personal terms with Bruno’s agent, but that Sporting were holding out for a very high transfer fee. Now, Fernandes has confirmed those rumors, saying that he had a deal in place to transfer to Spurs but Sporting rejected several Tottenham bids.

Bruno Fernandes revela que tinha quase tudo acertado para assinar pelo Tottenham. pic.twitter.com/Kc9Ak4zUeR — B24 (@B24PT) August 31, 2019

“Tottenham made several bids for me. Everything was agreed with me or practically. It was and is a goal for me to play in England, Sporting knows it, everyone knows it and there were indications that things would be done. But Sporting said that the transfer fee was not high enough and I have to respect the decision.”

Spare a moment for poor Bruno. His agent was doing his best to get him his desired move to the Premier League, and he was linked not only with Spurs but also Manchester United, as well as nominal links to a couple other English clubs. Instead, Sporting demanded a huge fee, the English clubs decided to look in other directions, and he ended up staying at Sporting for another season.

Given the choice, I think Tottenham got the better player in Lo Celso as I think he has the better upside and is also younger than Fernandes, but Bruno would’ve been a good addition to Spurs’ offense with his high shot volume and creativity. He’s probably going to be a good Premier League signing for somebody eventually, probably just not Spurs unless they decide to take another look at him this January or next summer.