What happened: Fabrizio Romano reports that João Palhinha has made Tottenham his priority destination, citing a strong feeling with manager Roberto De Zerbi. Should a deal not be agreed with Spurs, Sporting are described as keen and ready to act, but Palhinha's clear preference is a move to north London.

Why it matters: The stated preference strengthens Tottenham's position in negotiations and aligns with Palhinha's own comments that he wants to stay at Tottenham this summer. Securing a defensive midfielder of his profile would be a notable addition to De Zerbi's project.

What to watch: Watch whether Tottenham can agree terms with the selling club, with Sporting positioned as the fallback option if talks stall.