Graham Potter looks set to miss out on target as club responds to Tottenham’s opening £29m bid for Chelsea target

According to reports, Sporting have rejected Tottenham’s opening offer for defender Pedro Porro, and the two clubs are still far apart in their valuation of the Spaniard.

Spurs manager Antonio Conte is desperate for a new right wing-back this month and has identified the 23-year-old as the ideal candidate after facing him twice in the Champions League this season.

Tottenham are not the only club interested in Porro, with Chelsea also keeping an eye on him as they seek cover and competition for the injured Reece James.

Sporting have always stated that they will only allow Porro to leave in January if his €45 million (£39.5 million) release clause is met in full, and they have reiterated that position in talks with Tottenham this week.

Tottenham met with Sporting counterparts and made an opening offer worth £29 million plus bonuses, according to Portuguese newspaper Record.

That is about £10 million less than Sporting’s asking price, but Spurs hoped that the inclusion of a number of performance-related add-ons would make up the difference.

However, Sporting remain adamant that the former Manchester City player can only leave if his release clause is fully paid, and have rejected Tottenham’s offer.

With the two clubs still at odds, the transfer saga looks set to drag on until the end of the window, giving Chelsea the opportunity to make their own bid.

Conte is said to be ‘putting pressure’ on Tottenham’s board to complete a deal for Porro as soon as possible, with the Italian looking to sign three players this month.

Aside from a new right winger, the former Inter Milan manager wants to bring in a creative central midfielder and a left winger.

Porro, for one, is eager to test himself in the Premier League and would jump at the chance to join Spurs, but he is committed to Sporting and will not look to force a move.

‘Pedro’s future will always be a big club, but he’s already at a big club,’ Sporting manager Ruben Amorim said of Porro’s future. He is content at Sporting, but when the market is open and clubs make offers, it affects the players.’