Spurs' last-gasp frustration over thwarted Moutinho transfer bid

Porto's changing their demands in the final moments eventually spoil Tottenham's attempt to acquire Joao Moutinho.

Brad Friedel made several outstanding saves to help Tottenham Hotspur salvage a draw with Norwich City at White Hart Lane, keeping Andre Villas-Boas winless in his start as Spurs manager.
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Tottenham Hotspur's failure to sign Joao Moutinho on transfer deadline day was caused by a dispute over their principal transfer target's financial terms compounded by Porto's decision to increase their asking price a mere hour before Friday's window closed.

The Portuguese champions are said to have "behaved very badly," according to a participant in the negotiations.

The transfer looked set to go through by mid-afternoon on Friday when Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman, agreed a transfer fee of €25 million (Dh112.5m) plus a further €3m in performance-related variables.

Moutinho, whose salary in Portugal is close to €2m net, then rejected the personal terms on offer at White Hart Lane, so Porto instructed the midfielder to fly to the Algarve for Saturday's league match at Olhanense.

Several further rounds of negotiations ensued during which Andre Villas-Boas telephoned Moutinho to persuade him to accept an improved contract offer, ultimately securing the player's consent at 10pm UK time.

Porto, however, refused to complete the deal, asking for a 25 per cent increase in the transfer fee on the basis that the player's financial terms had been improved so theirs should be, too.

Infuriated by Porto's brinkmanship but anxious to furnish his new coach with the strongest squad possible, Levy increased the total value of Tottenham's offer to €30m.

Though Porto agreed to these terms 10 minutes before England's 11pm deadline, contractual documents they provided to the Premier League contained errors that could not be rectified in time to complete the transfer.

At 11.30pm, Tottenham conceded defeat on the deal.

While Tottenham may move for Moutinho again in the January window assuming Porto do not sell him to Zenit St Petersburg this week, the club are generally satisfied with their business in the summer window.

Liverpool were outbid for Clint Dempsey on Friday night, and they see the £6 million (Dh34.8m) United States international as a more dynamic version of Rafael van der Vaart - sold to Hamburg for £4m more.

Villas-Boas is said to regard Moussa Dembele as an ideal replacement for Luka Modric, with the Belgium international possessing a similar ability to create scoring opportunities and drive possession forward.

Also acquired from Fulham last week, Dembele cost £15m, while the unsettled Modric was sold to Real Madrid for an initial €30m, a further €8m in variables, and a cooperation agreement including two lucrative friendly matches between the club.

Meanwhile, Tom Huddlestone will look to secure an overseas loan move this week with the French, Russian and Turkish windows still open for incoming transfers.

The Tottenham midfielder wants regular first-team football as he seeks to complete his recovery from a recalcitrant ankle problem. While Benfica inquired about Huddlestone's availability to replace the outgoing Javi Garcia last week and agreed financial terms on a season-loan with Tottenham, the Portuguese club failed to complete the deal.

The French and Turkish transfer windows remain open until Wednesday, Russia's until Friday.

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