Transfer Talk: Further Scouting News

Tottenham scouts are frequently seen in Portugal, not that we seem to see many signings from there. We have had scouts out there once again last week.

I'll start though in Italy with a youngster who has very much caught our eye.

Spurs are continuing to scout 20-year-old (21 next June) Italian Under-21 international (4 caps, 1 goal, 1 assist - 189 minutes) winger Riccardo Sottil who is under contract at Fiorentina until 2021.

Fiorentina do not want to sell the starlet who is having made a good impression this season and have offered him a contract extension until 2024.

He has played 193 minutes, starting twice and coming on as a sub twice as he breaks his way into the senior side. Fiorentina have a project where they develop young players, which finances mean they sell on at a nice profit.

They will want to develop the player further before they let him go so I don't see our interest hardening into a purchase.



Spurs are also watching 20-year-old (21 next January) Portuguese U-21 international centre-back Diogo Queirós of Porto, who is currently on loan at Royal Excel Mouscron in Belgium.

We have scouts out in Belgium and Holland every week, indeed the scout tries to take in as many games as possible over a weekend.



The youngster is under contract until 2023 and is captain of his countries U-21 team for whom he has 3 caps, scoring 2 goals, with 1 assist in 270 minutes of playing time.


Portugal seems to be a hotbed of talent at the moment with a host of players coming through at Porto alone, who are catching the eye of scouts from around Europe.

Porto Talent to Watch

• Diogo Costa (20 - 21 next September) - Goalkeeper - Portugal U-21 (4 caps)
• Diogo Leite (20 - 21 next January) - Central Defender - Portugal U-21 (8 caps)
• Diogo Queirós (See Above)
• Tomás Esteves (17 - 18 next April) - Right-back - Portugal U-21 (1 cap)
• Mor Ndiaye (18 - 19 in November) - Defensive Midfielder - Senegalese
• Fábio Vieira (19 - 20 next May) - Attacking Midfielder - Portugal U-20 (3 caps, 1 goal)
• Vitor Ferreira (19 - 20 next February) - Defensive Midfielder - Portugal U-21 (3 caps)
• Romário Baró (19 - 20 next January) - Right or Central Midfield - Portugal U-21 (1 cap)
• João Mário (19 - 20 next January) - Right Wing - Portugal U-20 (3 caps)
• Fábio Silva (17 - 18 next July) - Centre Forward - Portugal U-19 (3 caps, 3 goals)