Tottenham have made FC Porto right-back Ricardo Pereira their number one target to replace the outgoing Kyle Walker, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Walker is set to move to Manchester City for a rumoured £40m, which could be made official this week, leaving Spurs short of full-back options.
Mauricio Pochettino is able to call upon Kieran Trippier in defence, but is keen to come into the season with another right-back and not be caught short at the back.
Pereira, who has spent the last two seasons on loan with French side Nice, has earned rave reviews for his performances at full-back, while the 23-year-old is also a capable wing-back, with his versatility a bonus for Pochettino.
Indeed, Pereira started in no fewer than six positions across Nice’s Ligue 1 and Europa League campaign, including 16 starts at either right-back or right wing-back.
The Portuguese star impressed too as he chipped in with four assists and two goals to earn a respectable WhoScored rating of 7.36 in France's top tier last term.
Porto will supposedly demand £20m for Pereira, which is well within Spurs’ budget, but a major stumbling block is that PSG, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have all been credited with an interest in the youngster.
Joel Veltman is another potential target for Spurs, though Pochettino would prefer he come to the club as a centre-back rather than a right-back, with Pereira believed to be high on the club’s wish list this summer.
