Tottenham Hotspur are set to step up their interest in Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez, according to AS.
The Premier League outfit are ready to make the Spain Under-21 international the highest-paid player at White Hart Lane, despite him having signed a contract at the Vicente Calderon that ties him to the club until June 2020.
However, Los Rojiblancos would be powerless to stop him leaving should another club decide to pay the €45m release clause in his agreement.
Elche-born Saul joined Atleti´s youth academy in 2008 after an initial two years at rivals Real Madrid, before making his first team bow in 2012.
He then spent the 2013-14 season on loan at Rayo Vallecano before returning to become a vital part of Diego Simeone’s side, demonstrating his ability recently by scoring a brilliant goal in the first leg of Atletico’s recent Champions League semi-final clash with Bayern Munich, a tie they eventually won on the away goals rule.
Nonetheless, Los Rojiblancos’ President Enrique Cerezo remains confident the youngster sees his immediate future in the Spanish capital.
“Saul has a contract with us. He’s come through our academy and is Atletico through and through. From what I know, and from what the player himself has told me, he wants to stay with us,” maintained Cerezo.
