Bryan King considers Tottenham’s deal with Real Betis regarding Johnny Cardoso to be a “smart business move” for the Premier League club.
The former Spurs scout has called the transfer arrangement between the two teams “unique.”
According to Fabrizio Romano on X (August 30), Tottenham has secured a priority option to sign Cardoso in the future as part of the deal that saw Giovani Lo Celso move to Real Betis.
Cardoso has agreed to the terms, but should Spurs choose not to pursue him, they will still benefit from a sell-on clause for his next transfer. Tom Bogert from Give Me Sport, also on X (August 30), revealed that the agreed fixed fee for Cardoso’s transfer is £25.3 million. King, speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, believes this is a manageable price for Tottenham if they decide to acquire the player.
King noted, “I’m familiar with similar types of deals. This one is indeed unique. Tottenham would certainly be able to afford Cardoso at that price if they choose to sign him. However, there are potential risks. What if Cardoso decides he doesn’t want to join Tottenham a year from now? Or if he suffers an injury? I would have expected a simpler conclusion to this deal.”
King further explained that Real Betis likely struggled to meet Tottenham’s financial demands for Lo Celso. As a result, this deal, which provides Tottenham with a potential future asset and a sell-on fee, seems advantageous given the circumstances. “It sounds like Tottenham have managed to do some good business here considering the situation. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds,” King added.
The transfer arrangement is indeed unconventional, but it demonstrates Spurs’ creative approach to managing player transactions. With Lo Celso’s departure being necessary, Tottenham fans can be relieved that the midfielder is no longer part of the squad. This deal not only provides Tottenham with a future option but also ensures they will benefit from a sell-on fee for a player they did not directly purchase.
In other Tottenham news, one player has come under fire for his “antics” during the match against Newcastle United.