The first signs that Andre Villas-Boas is set to stay on as Tottenham’s manager are beginning to surface, as Brazilian midfielder Paulinho has revealed Spurs have made a bid for him.
With AVB seemingly planning ahead for next season, after intense speculation linking him with the Paris Saint-Germain job, Spurs have made a $25 million bid for the Corinthians man who revealed the interest himself.
Paulinho also stated that he would sit down with his family to discuss any potential move and is waiting until the end of the Confederations Cup tournament before making any decisions.
Corinthians director of football, former Arsenal midfielder Edu, revealed things are moving forward. “The situation is well under way. We have to agree on some details of the negotiation, so I can’t say he will leave yet, but the negotiations are good.”
So what can Tottenham fans expect from the Brazilian if he arrives at White Hart Lane?
England fans will remember his scorching volley late on in the recent 2-2 friendly tie at the Maracana, but Paulinho is better known for his aerial prowess and touch-tackling.
Spurs fans don’t need to worry about the 24-year-old being a direct replacement for Gareth Bale either. Paulinho is 6 foot tall and is a typical box-to-box midfielder who supplements his defensive work with long-bursting runs forward.
Think of Chelsea’s Brazilian midfielder Ramires, but taller.
With Paulinho possibly arriving, could it spell the end for Tom Huddlestone, Mousa Dembele or Scott Parker? One of them will surely have to move on if Paulinho does sign for Spurs. Dembele could be the most likely after his career at Spurs has stalled after failing to recapture the form that saw him impress at Fulham.
Whether or not Paulinho arrives, Spurs are now able to attract top players from across the globe as AVB leads them onwards and upwards. Of course they would love to be in the Champions League this season after their narrow miss, but if Gareth Bale remains and AVB can add quality throughout the spine of his team, Spurs can definitely challenge for the top four given all the changes and upheaval at Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United over this summer.
While Paulinho ponders a move to the Premier League, AVB seems to be continuing his hard work behind the scenes. That must be music to the ears of Tottenham fans.
