Tottenham Hotspur are going to have to look elsewhere for a new midfielder as Johnny Cardoso has decided to join Atletico Madrid this summer.
Cardoso has rejected Tottenham’s move to sign him and he is now expected to remain in La Liga to play for Diego Simeone’s team.
Spurs need a holding midfielder this summer, with the North London club looking to sell Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur struggling for consistency.
But with Cardoso now off the market, Johan Lange will have to look elsewhere for a top transfer target and here are three alternatives TBR Football thinks he should be targeting.
Joao Palhinha or Douglas Luiz would be ambitious moves from Tottenham
TBR Football understands that Bayern Munich are open to selling Joao Palhinha this summer, with the midfielder struggling for game time in Germany.
The Portuguese international was excellent at Fulham which earned him the move to Bayern, however, he has struggled to break into the team under Vincent Kompany.
Now, the midfielder could be set to leave this summer and the Lilywhites should be entering the race to land the 29-year-old.
Meanwhile, Douglas Luiz is another top former Premier League player who could be on the move this summer following an underwhelming stint in Turin.
Juventus made Luiz available for transfer in January, and if that remains the case this summer, he could prove to be an excellent pick-up.
Tottenham should prioritise move for Carlos Baleba
Top of his list should be Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba who was one of the top midfielders in the Premier League last season.
However, much like the case with Adam Wharton at Crystal Palace, getting him out of the Amex could prove extremely difficult.
According to reports, Brighton value Baleba at more than £115m, which Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo, making this deal quite unrealistic for Spurs at this stage.
The 21-year-old’s ability to drive forward with the ball, along with his brilliant passing, would make him a perfect fit for any midfield.
Exequiel Palacios could be an interesting target for Tottenham
Another great target could be Exequiel Palacios from Bayer Leverkusen, with the Argentine midfielder impressing in the Bundesliga over the last two seasons.
Arsenal and Liverpool scouted Palacios last season and Spurs should certainly think about entering the race with both clubs being well stocked in that position.
During their title-winning campaign, the 26-year-old was particularly impressive and he has proved he is ready for the top level.
Should Cristian Romero stay at Spurs, the club should be getting him in contact with his compatriot to convince him about making a move to London.