Report: Paratici was in talks with club for 22-year-old talent before making £25m Spurs signing

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Fabio Paratici was reportedly eyeing Sevilla defender Jules Kounde before making a move to sign Bryan Gil for Tottenham.

According to the Athletic, the Tottenham official had opened talks with the La Liga side over the possibility of a Kounde/Davinson Sanchez swap deal. But, the French international was not open to moving to Spurs.

However, Paratici learnt that Gil was available, and the Italian transfer guru changed tact to get a deal for the Spaniard completed rather than the 22-year-old centre-back.

As per the Athletic, £25m + Erik Lamela was enough to convince Sevilla to sell Gil to the north London side. The playmaker became the club’s second signing of the transfer window, with Cristian Romero shortly following the winger.

Whilst Gil is yet to play a game for Spurs, the deal has appeared to have pleased all parties involved. Indeed, Lamela scored a brace in his debut for Sevilla. Whilst the Andalusian club received a good fee for an academy graduate.

Tottenham’s business in the window is far from over, though. The north London side are still targeting a second centre-back signing. Whilst the future of Harry Kane remains one of the biggest talking points in the English game.

Daniel Levy rejected a £125m offer for the 28-year-old striker. But, the Telegraph report that Manchester City will make one final push to sign Kane before the end of the transfer window this month.