Tottenham have emerged as the latest club to make a concrete move for young left-back Souza, but Santos responded with a firm stance ahead of January.
Reports from Brazil show that Spurs tested the waters and met immediate resistance from the Brazilian side.
Journalist Lucas Musetti reports that Tottenham submitted an official proposal for the 19-year-old left-back in recent days. Santos rejected the approach and replied with a clear demand of €17m, for 70% of the player’s economic rights.
Musetti adds that Tottenham’s offer stayed well below that figure, which makes a January deal highly unlikely.
Santos’ reaction reflects their broader strategy. The club see Souza as a key part of their plans and do not want to weaken the squad mid-season.
Under contract until 2028, the defender became a regular starter towards the end of the season. Internally, the board believe his value can still rise further in 2026.
Tottenham are not the only club to face that position. There were previous approaches from AC Milan and Chelsea, which also failed. In each case, Santos held firm and refused to open negotiations.
However, Tottenham could point to a more immediate first-team pathway, while Chelsea’s earlier plan involved a spell at Strasbourg as part of a longer-term strategy.
For Spurs, the response offers clarity. Santos have set a clear benchmark and signalled that any serious move would require a far higher investment.