€100m Tottenham target makes transfer decision
Tottenham have set their sights on 18-year-old River Plate attacking midfielder Lautaro Pereyra, who has made a crucial decision over his future.
Pereyra has featured 15 times for River Plate’s first team and has established himself as one of the players to watch in Argentina with a string of promising displays.
He has committed himself to a new contract with his formative club until the end of December 2029, but while this is a blow for Spurs, there is some more positive news wrapped in this update.
Pereyra’s release clause will remain set at €100 million, which is identical to the figure that was set when he signed his first professional deal at the start of the year.
Since then, the teenager has grown from a rookie with the reserves to a player fighting to make regular appearances in the starting XI. He has yet to make a huge mark on the first team, scoring one goal so far, but there is a great deal of excitement over what he could become in the future.
“He’s really going to stand out,” former River Plate coach Eduardo Coudet explained.
“What caught my attention was his technical ability and quick decision-making. If we can add to that the fact that he's a physical player, that he can play on the left, as a second striker or attacking midfielder, that he can play in different positions. Then, the technical aspect is already there.”
Lautaro Pereyra: A Neymar-type dribbler
The player, meanwhile, describes himself as a one-on-one style player, who draws his inspiration from one of the most exciting wingers of the last 10 years.
“My role model? Neymar,” he said after signing his contract. “I’m a dribble, I’m fast and I like trying to take on players.”
Pereyra’s decision to sign a new contract at River Plate carries him away from Tottenham for the moment, but Spurs will doubtless be keeping close tabs on the winger in the months ahead.
The Argentine club’s decision to hand him a new deal with a year of his first professional agreement is recognition of the interest in him and a move to protect the value they can drive for a player who has a rapidly increasing reputation.
Spurs may lead the way for Pereyra, but if he continues to sparkle, they will surely face competition from their Premier League rivals sooner rather than later.
