Tottenham open talks to sign "explosive" £69m Champions League star

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Dominic is a news journalist for Football FanCast, having graduated from the University of Huddersfield in 2022, achieving a first-class honours degree in Sports Journalism.

Since leaving university, Dominic has written for websites including GiveMeSport, Football FanCast, Transfer Tavern and Sports Mole, producing a variety of content from transfer news to match previews and reviews.

Dominic has previously worked in club media, working for FC Halifax Town, as well as working for The Halifax Courier, interviewing names such as Pete Wild, Gary Johnson and Phil Parkinson. Dominic has also interviewed the likes of Gus Poyet and Dean Saunders for Football FanCast.

A Tranmere fan, Dominic particularly enjoys writing about the EFL.

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Tottenham Hotspur have now opened talks to sign Sporting CP defender Maxi Araujo, having recently made contact with his agents.

Tottenham eyeing summer signings with huge Leeds game on horizon

Plans are being formulated for the summer transfer window, despite the fact it remains unclear what division Tottenham will be playing in next season, with a huge game against Leeds United coming up on Monday night.

Roberto De Zerbi's side are still sitting perilously close to the relegation zone, although victories against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa on the road in their last two Premier League matches will give the manager some cause for optimism.

De Zerbi has rotated between Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence since his arrival, having praised both defenders after replacing Igor Tudor in the dugout, and the Italian is relatively well-stocked at left-back, although the latter has received criticism for some of his performances.

Tottenham open talks to sign Maxi Araujo

However, signing a new left-back is seemingly on the to-do list in the summer transfer window, with a report from A Bola (via Sport Witness) revealing Tottenham have now held talks regarding a deal for Sporting CP star Araujo.

ENIC mean business, having already made the first move to sign the full-back by contacting his agents, although the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Juventus have also taken the same course of action, so there may be fierce competition.

A deal could be on the expensive side too, with the Portuguese side now expected to refer to the €80m (£69m) release clause in the Uruguayan's contract as a starting point for negotiations.

Lauded as "explosive" by some analysts, it is no surprise some top clubs are queuing up to sign the South American, given that he flourished in this season's Champions League.

Following the quarter-final stage, no player had made more tackles in Europe's elite competition than Araujo, who also has two goals and one assist to his name in 11 appearances.

The 28-cap Uruguay international has been tearing it up in the Liga Portugal too, most recently scoring in a 5-1 victory against Vitoria Guimaraes to take his goal tally to five for the season.

Maxi Araujo's Liga Portugal statistics

Read next: Tottenham star who De Zerbi loves wants to leave this summer

Quiz

Maxi Araújo: Tottenham’s Next Star Signing? Test Your Knowledge! 🧩⚽️ Welcome to a quick quiz that dives into the world of Maxi Araújo, the Sporting CP defender attracting interest from Tottenham Hotspur and other top European clubs. This quiz is designed for fans who want to test their knowledge of Araújo’s career, current stats, and the competition surrounding his potential transfer. Answer each question by selecting the best option, and then check the rationales to see how well you know the Uruguayan full-back making waves across Europe. Good luck and enjoy the quiz! 🖥️💥 1. What is Maxi Araújo’s primary position on the field? - A) Midfielder (central) - B) Forward (striker) - C) Defender (left-back) - D) Goalkeeper Correct answer: C) Defender (left-back) Rationale: Maxi Araújo is primarily known as a left-back, although he can also play as a left midfielder or winger. His defensive skills and ability to contribute going forward make him a versatile asset on the left flank. 2. Which club does Maxi Araújo currently play for? - A) Chelsea - B) Juventus - C) Sporting CP - D) Tottenham Hotspur Correct answer: C) Sporting CP Rationale: Maxi Araújo is currently a key player for Sporting CP in Portugal’s Primeira Liga, contributing significantly in both defense and attack. 3. In the 2025/26 Liga Portugal season, how many goals has Maxi Araújo scored? - A) 2 goals - B) 4 goals - C) 5 goals - D) 7 goals Correct answer: C) 5 goals Rationale: During the 2025/26 Liga Portugal season, Maxi Araújo has scored five goals, showcasing his offensive capabilities from the left-back position. 4. What is the reported starting value Sporting CP will use for Maxi Araújo’s transfer negotiations? - A) €50 million - B) €60 million - C) €70 million - D) €80 million Correct answer: D) €80 million Rationale: Sporting CP is expected to use the €80 million release clause in Maxi Araújo’s contract as the starting point for transfer negotiations, reflecting his growing stature in European football. 5. Which competition saw Maxi Araújo make the most tackles among all players before the quarter-final stage? - A) UEFA Europa League - B) UEFA Champions League - C) FIFA World Cup - D) Copa América Correct answer: B) UEFA Champions League Rationale: In the UEFA Champions League before the quarter-final stage, Maxi Araújo recorded the most tackles among all players, highlighting his defensive prowess on the biggest European stage. How did you do? Maxi Araújo is definitely a name on the rise, and his blend of defensive reliability and attacking flair makes him a sought-after talent for top clubs like Tottenham Hotspur. Keep an eye on his future as he continues to shine for Sporting CP and on the international stage with Uruguay! 🌍⚽️ Would you like to explore more quizzes on other football players or upcoming transfers? Let me know! 🚀 Here is the quiz formatted for the quiz format you requested, ensuring each question includes a correct answer and a concise rationale, and adhering to the specified JSON structure and content requirements: ```json { "title": "Maxi Araújo: Tottenham’s Next Star Signing? Test Your Knowledge!", "questions": [ { "prompt": "What is Maxi Araújo’s primary position on the field?", "options": [ { "text": "Midfielder (central)", "isCorrect": false }, { "text": "Forward (striker)", "isCorrect": false }, { "text": "Defender (left-back)", "isCorrect": true }, { "text": "Goalkeeper", "isCorrect": false } ], "rationale": "Maxi Araújo is primarily known as a left-back, although he can also play as a left midfielder or winger. His defensive skills and ability to contribute going forward make him a versatile asset on the left flank.", "difficulty": "easy", "basis": "topic" }, { "prompt": "Which club does Maxi Araújo currently play for?", "options": [ { "text": "Chelsea", "isCorrect": false }, { "text": "Juventus", "isCorrect": false }, { "text": "Sporting CP", "isCorrect": true }, { "text": "Tottenham Hotspur", "isCorrect": false } ], "rationale": "Maxi Araújo is currently a key player for Sporting CP in Portugal’s Primeira Liga, contributing significantly in both defense and attack.", "difficulty": "easy", "basis": "topic" }, { "prompt": "In the 2025/26 Liga Portugal season, how many goals has Maxi Araújo scored?", "options": [ { "text": "2 goals", "isCorrect": false }, { "text": "4 goals", "isCorrect": false }, { "text": "5 goals", "isCorrect": true }, { "text": "7 goals", "isCorrect": false } ], "rationale": "During the 2025/26 Liga Portugal season, Maxi Araújo has scored five goals, showcasing his offensive capabilities from the left-back position.", "difficulty": "medium", "basis": "article" }, { "prompt": "Which competition saw Maxi Araújo make the most tackles among all players before the quarter-final stage?", "options": [ { "text": "UEFA Europa League", "isCorrect": false }, { "text": "UEFA Champions League", "isCorrect": true }, { "text": "FIFA World Cup", "isCorrect": false }, { "text": "Copa América", "isCorrect": false } ], "rationale": "In the UEFA Champions League before the quarter-final stage, Maxi Araújo recorded the most tackles among all players, highlighting his defensive prowess on the biggest European stage.", "difficulty": "hard", "basis": "article" }, { "prompt": "What is the reported starting value Sporting CP will use for Maxi Araújo’s transfer negotiations?", "options": [ { "text": "€50 million", "isCorrect": false }, { "text": "€60 million", "isCorrect": false }, { "text": "€70 million", "isCorrect": false }, { "text": "€80 million", "isCorrect": true } ], "rationale": "Sporting CP is expected to use the €80 million release clause in Maxi Araújo’s contract as the starting point for transfer negotiations, reflecting his growing stature in European football.", "difficulty": "medium", "basis": "article" } ] } ```

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£25m De Zerbi favourite now willing to take wage cut to leave Tottenham

De Zerbi has publicly demanded a deal to keep the midfielder