Tottenham Hotspur have been looking more and more towards Brazil in recent windows, and it’s not hard to see why.
It’s a market that regularly produces top talent at relatively accessible prices. On top of that, players are often open to a move to England, even if the situation isn’t perfect.
That matters right now, with Spurs still not entirely safe and at least flirting with the idea of a drop to the Championship. Even so, a move to England can still be attractive.
They’ve already been active there too. Tottenham recently worked on a deal to sign left-back Souza from Santos, which fits this wider strategy of tapping into the Brazilian market.
With that context in mind, Spurs have now taken another step.
Tottenham officials in Belo Horizonte
According to local insider outlet Central da Toca, a Tottenham scout was in the stands for Cruzeiro’s 2-0 win over Grêmio at the Mineirão last weekend. However, there’s no confirmation yet on who exactly they were watching.
Goals from Lucas Romero and Christian sealing the result after a dominant display. Both stood out on the night, but neither is believed to be among Tottenham’s main targets.
Cruzeiro have a few names catching attention, and their recent performances have only increased that.
Kaiki looks like the obvious one
Inside the Brazilian club, Kaiki is seen as the most likely to move to Europe. The 23-year-old left-back was close to joining Como last window, with a deal around €12.5m (£10.8m) on the table before Cruzeiro pulled back.
He ticks a lot of Premier League boxes. Physical, reliable, and able to get forward. Add in a recent Brazil call-up under Carlo Ancelotti, and his profile has only grown.
From a squad building point of view it could only make sense if Destiny Udogie is bound to leave Tottenham in the summer. Or even his fellow Brazilian Souza is expected to be loaned out. Still, he is a smart catch for any European side.
Kaio Jorge is the high-impact option
If the scout was looking for immediate attacking output, then Kaio Jorge would have been impossible to ignore.
The striker has started 2026 in strong form, with nine goals in 12 matches. Last year he scored 26 in 46. He looks sharp, confident, and increasingly decisive in front of goal. That alone puts him on the radar of clubs across Europe.
West Ham tried to sign him in the January window and failed. That’s because the club are reportedly not willing to entertain offers below €50m (£43.5m).
That pushes him into a very different category. For Tottenham, especially with uncertainty around their league position, that kind of investment would require serious conviction.
Others also on the radar
Another logical name is Jonathan Jesus, who sits in a slightly different bracket. He’s younger, 21, and probably less polished, but that comes with a lower entry cost.
Earlier this year, Zenit made a move in the region of €8m (£6.9m), which Cruzeiro rejected. Even so, that valuation puts him firmly in the “development signing” category.
Young wingers Keny Arroyo and Néiser Villareal also fit that description. Both are 20-year-old and are giving defenders hell.
Arroyo plays on the right. He arrived from Besiktas last summer for €8.5m (£7.3m) and is one of the first names in the team sheet since. Villareal can play on the left or up front. And before arriving at Cruzeiro, Barcelona had him on their radar following his performances for Colombia at the 2025 U20 World Cup.
The ‘experienced’ angle
There are also the more experienced profiles to be watched. Like centre-back Fabrício Bruno, who has already attracted interest from Juventus.
At 28, he doesn’t fit the same resale model as the others, but he offers something different – reliability, leadership, and immediate impact. If Spurs were thinking short-term stability, he could be part of that conversation, even if he’s not the typical target.
He recently renewed his deal until 2028. That makes him a difficult target, but his profile – technical, inventive, and able to control the final third – is exactly the kind Tottenham usually look at.
What this means for Spurs
This doesn’t feel like a one-player mission. It looks much more like Tottenham building a broader picture of the squad and identifying multiple options depending on how their summer shapes up.
Spurs are clearly building knowledge and keeping tabs on multiple players rather than rushing into a deal. But if their situation becomes clearer in the coming weeks, things could move quickly.
Either way, this is another sign that Brazil is becoming a key part of Spurs’ recruitment thinking – and Cruzeiro might just be the next place they dip into.