Sporting Lisbon are close to agreeing a deal to sign Barcelona right-back Hector Bellerin on loan for the rest of the season.
The 27-year-old’s arrival would give Sporting a replacement for Pedro Porro, who Tottenham Hotspur hope to sign before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
Sporting initially wanted Tariq Lamptey from Brighton & Hove Albion if Porro left, but the English club were reluctant to let the 21-year-old leave on a temporary basis and their Portuguese counterparts could not afford to buy him.
Their focus then shifted to Bellerin, who has seen game time hard to come by since moving to Barcelona from Arsenal last summer and his contract is scheduled to expire in June.
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The Spain international has been restricted to only seven appearances this season — with just three of those coming in La Liga — and is now in line to fill the void left by his countryman Porro, should his proposed transfer to Spurs be completed.
Porro’s performances for Sporting were rewarded with an international debut in March 2021, which came in a World Cup qualifier against Georgia.
This campaign he has been a regular presence for Ruben Amorim’s side, recording three goals and 11 assists in 25 matches across all competitions.
Sporting sit fourth in the Primeira Liga and last night lost the Portuguese League Cup final to local rivals Porto.
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(Photo: Getty Images)
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