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Bruno Fernandes has revealed he was ready to join Tottenham this summer but Sporting would not let him leave.

The midfielder was heavily linked with Spurs and Manchester United throughout the summer transfer window but ultimately stayed at Sporting. He has now revealed the details of what happened before the English window closed earlier this month.

Speaking to GQ Portugal (as relayed by Sky Sports), Fernandes claimed he had effectively agreed to join Tottenham before his current employers pulled the plug.

He said: “As you all know, Tottenham made a lot of proposals for me. Everything was right with me – or practically should be.

“I never made any big demands, my manager was always dealing with the financials. It was and is my goal to play in England, Sporting you know that, everyone knows that, and there were conditions for things to be done.

“But Sporting understood that the value was not enough and I have to respect the decision.”

Sky Sports believes the new contract Fernandes signed at Sporting last summer included a £31 million release clause. However, Sporting were permitted to reject bids of that value if they compensated Fernandes with £4.5 million.

As a result, Tottenham’s bid was turned down as it did not meet Sporting’s £60 million valuation. It’s unclear exactly how much Spurs offered for the 24-year-old, who scored 32 goals across all competitions last season.

It will be interesting to see if Spurs go back in for him in January or next summer. There is a chance Fernandes was being pursued as an alternative to Giovani Lo Celso, who ultimately moved to north London on deadline day.

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