Willian José trained as usual with Real Sociedad this morning, although a move to Tottenham is expected to be completed by ‘today at the latest’, reports Diario Vasco.
Spurs have identified José as the man they want to bolster their forward line after losing Harry Kane to injury earlier this month.
They have already seen a €15m bid for the Brazilian rejected by La Real, who are thought to want at least double that before they would sanction a move.
José was left out of Sociedad’s 2-0 win over Espanyol in midweek but trained as normal today according to Diario Vasco.
However, he is not expected to be available for Sunday’s clash with Mallorca, with it believed he will be a Tottenham player by some point today.
The striker has a deal with Spurs, which will see him increase his wages to €5m per year, completely wrapped up, but Tottenham are yet to finalise an agreement with Real Sociedad.
The Spanish side had been adamant that they wouldn’t be selling José this month and had made this clear to him and his representatives, but the striker is ‘determined’ to make the move and has relayed this to club chief Jokin Aperribay.
Indeed, La Real are trying to ‘put out the fire’, with the whole situation described as ‘complicated’ if Tottenham are unwilling to put more money on the table.
So far that is yet to happen, and there seems to be an impasse, but Diario Vasco explain that investment group, the Stellar Group, could end up playing a significant role.
They own 30% of José’s rights, and are the ones, alongside his agent, who have been pushing the transfer along from the beginning.
As part of the deal that took José to Sociedad in the first place, they included an option that should Real Sociedad not want to sell, but they did, then they would be due 30% of the price offered, so long as it was over a certain amount, and thus hand Real Sociedad total control over the player.
For example, Willian José is valued at €30m, and if Tottenham were to offer this and Real Sociedad turned it down, then the Stellar Group could demand €9m.
So far Tottenham’s bid is ‘quite far’ from the player’s market value, so this has not come in to play, but if Spurs were to up their bid, then the investment group may try to take their percentage and try and force their hand.
It’s slightly conflicting from Diario Vasco, they’re clear in their statement over the deal being done today, but also clear when they say Tottenham haven’t yet offered enough.
Things will have to move quickly with the next Spurs approach.
