Brazil international Paulinho set for San Siro switch.
Tottenham target Paulinho has signed a pre-contract agreement with Serie A outfit Inter Milan, according to the general manager of Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk.
The 24-year-old Corinthians star has been linked with a move away from his homeland this summer, with a host of European clubs including Spurs and Shakhtar said to be tracking the Brazil international.
The midfielder is currently on international duty at the Confederations Cup but admitted last week that his agent was in London, prompting speculation that Spurs were close to agreeing a deal for the Selecao player.
But Sergey Palkin, general manager of Shakhtar, has claimed Paulinho has already signed a pre-contract agreement with Inter.
“We are interested in Paulinho, but the player has signed a pre-contract with Inter,” Palkin told Gazzetta dello Sport.
Paulinho admitted earlier this month that a move to the San Siro appealed, telling Gazzetta: “I said and I repeat: I would go for sure to Inter.
“They are a club known all over the world.
“There played Ronaldo, Julio Cesar, Lucio, Maicon. Who would not want to wear that shirt? The fact that Inter would not participate in the next Champions League is not a problem, because they surely will want to take revenge.
“But if Inter want me they have to come forward with a right offer. I’m not a kid. I’m fine in Brazil, I play in a strong side like Corinthians and I’m one of the Selecao’s regular eleven. I must have the right motivations to leave all that.”
Interestingly, if Paulinho were to move to the Nerazzurri it could leave Spurs free to pursue Inter’s Colombian midfielder Freddy Guarin.
Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas worked with the Colombian at Porto and Inter have already admitted that the north London club want to sign the set-piece specialist this summer.
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