Spurs out to beat Arsenal and Everton to free transfer for veteran Brazil defender Thiago Silva, 35
TOTTENHAM boss Jose Mourinho wants to land Brazil skipper Thiago Silva on a free this summer.
Mourinho needs to boost his defence with Belgium stalwart Jan Vertonghen set to leave when his deal runs down this season.
Paris Saint-Germain have announced that club captain Silva and record goalscorer Edinson Cavani will leave the club after the conclusion of the Champions League campaign.
Both players’ contracts are due to expire this month.
And the French champions’ sporting director Leonardo revealed they will not be handed extensions – other than temporary ones to allow them to play in Europe.
Prem clubs will are also on alert over Uruguay ace Cavani, 33, but Chelsea are believed to be also baulking at the striker’s wage demands of around £360,000 a week.
Atletico Madrid are favourites to land the ex-Napoli star.
But SunSport can confirm Mourinho is interested in snapping up Silva, 35, who is widely regarded as one of the best defenders ever to play for Brazil.
His pay demands could be a stumbling block, with Silva on around £350,000 a week at PSG.
Arsenal and Everton are also ready to speak to Silva to discuss his demands.
The defender has also revealed he wants to stay in Europe after he had been linked with a return to Brazil.
He said: “Everyone knows the affection I have for Fluminense. But I still have goals to reach in Europe.”
Leonardo admitted it had been tough opting to let the pair go.
“It was a difficult decision to make, they are players who made their mark on the club’s history,” he said.
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“We had to make a decision based on logic.”
Both players will be involved in the Champions League campaign, which is expected to be concluded in August. PSG qualified for the quarter-finals after eliminating Borussia Dortmund in the last 16.
PSG were crowned champions on April 30 when the league brought the season to an end as part of the country’s efforts to contain the novel coronavirus.