ENIC holding talks to sign “obscene” £20m star to end Porro’s Spurs career
Three years on from having arrived in north London from Sporting CP, Tottenham Hotspur defender Pedro Porro could be on his way in 2026, if reports are to be believed.
The Spaniard – who is having a “disaster of a season”, in the view of podcaster Seb Martin – is said to be attracting interest from LaLiga giants Real Madrid, with Xabi Alonso’s side already considering replacements for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back.
While the nature of that interest might suggest it would be a significant loss for Spurs to lose their starting full-back on that right flank, as Martin alluded to, it hasn’t exactly been a positive 2025/26 for the 26-year-old.
Indeed, for all Porro’s attacking thrust, he has actually only registered a solitary assist in the Premier League, while ranking in the bottom 10% of top-flight full-backs for pass completion, as per FBref.
With Djed Spence also waiting in the wings, there would be adequate cover if Porro were to depart, be it this month or over the summer, not least if Thomas Frank’s side also acquire a perfect replacement.
Spurs in talks to sign Porro replacement
Full-back looks likely to be a priority area for the north Londoners in 2026, not least with Destiny Udogie still making his way back from injury, ensuring veteran left-back Ben Davies started – and scored – in the 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
That need for another genuine option on the left flank has led to Spurs moving for Santos teenager, Souza, with the club having already had an £8m bid rejected for the 19-year-old.
On the opposite side, Spurs could also turn to an exciting Brazilian talent to help send Porro on his way, with TEAMtalk reporting that talks have been held regarding AS Monaco defender, Vanderson.
Indeed, the report suggests that the Lilywhites and ENIC have been contacted by intermediaries regarding a possible move for the 24-year-old, with top-flight rivals Everton also among those to have been approached, alongside Crystal Palace and Brighton.
The piece notes that the player is seeking to leave the Ligue 1 side this month, with Monaco likely to cash in at the right price, amid the suggestion that a £20m fee could be enough to strike a deal.
How Vanderson compares to Pedro Porro
Gone are the days of Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier at Tottenham, with the full-back berths still proving somewhat problematic for a succession of managers now at N17.
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In the case of Porro, the attack-minded asset isn’t without quality, having registered six assists and created ten ‘big chances’ last season, as per Sofascore, although it’s hard to ignore his woes defensively, having been dribbled past 1.1 times per game in 2025/26.
Vanderson, meanwhile, has only played eight times in Ligue 1 this season, but he has showcased a fine balance between attack and defence, bettering the Spurs man across a string of metrics.
Vanderson vs Porro – 25/26 League stats
Stat (*per game)
Vanderson
Porro
Games
8
20
Starts
5
18
Goals
0
0
Assists
2
1
Big chances created
3
4
Key passes*
1.1
1.4
Pass accuracy*
80%
74%
Possession lost*
10.6
19.2
Dribbled past*
0.5
1.1
Stats via Sofascore
Indeed, despite his limited game time, the seven-cap Brazil star has still registered two assists, while having been dribbled past just 0.5 times per game in France.
Equally, when comparing the pair to their peers in Europe’s top five leagues across the last 12 months, as per FBref, it is again Vanderson who has been far more impressive, albeit while also lining up as a wing-back at Stade Louis II.
The £20m man notably ranks in top 3% of European full-backs for interceptions, and in the top 13% for tackles, with Porro, by contrast, ranking in just the bottom 32% and the bottom 48% for those same two metrics, respectively.
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In the final third too, Vanderson ranks in the top 13% for successful take-ons, as well as boasting a far superior pass accuracy rate (77.3%), while Porro ranks in just the bottom 52% for successful take-ons, alongside recording a 71% pass accuracy, across the league and Champions League.
In essence, the wantaway Monaco star is a real all-round, balanced option on that right flank, while also providing the benefit of his “obscene pace”, as noted by scout Antonio Mango.
With 24 goals and assists in 137 games in total for his current side, he would be able to get close to mirroring Porro’s attacking threat, albeit while appearing far less of a liability defensively.
And so, with Madrid calling to take the Spurs struggler back to Spain, Frank and ENIC could speed up the process by signing off on a ready-made replacement.
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