Chelsea ‘leapfrog Tottenham in Pedro Porro transfer race’ with Blues desperate to seal £37m deal

CHELSEA have overtaken Tottenham in the race to sign Pedro Porro, according to reports.

Spanish full-back Porro, 23, is highly-rated at Sporting Lisbon and has attracted heavy interest from the Premier League.

Tottenham have been a long-term admirer of his, owing to their lack of quality at right wing-back.

However, with the North Londoners baulking at the Spaniard's £37million release clause, Chelsea have the opportunity to take advantage.

And according to , the Blues are now the club "closest" to signing him.

They suggest the recent run of poor results has added to arguments to bring in reinforcements, with Reece James a frequent injury worry.

Graham Potter will be happy to add a genuine quality option in the position after he bolstered his misfiring attack with a loan move for Joao Felix.

For Antonio Conte and Tottenham, it will come as a bitter blow given their desperate need for an improvement in the position, with that Porro is their main target.

Conte heavily endorsed a move for a right wing-back in the summer, with Tottenham securing Djed Spence and Ivan Perisic.

But Spence seldom plays under the Italian, while Perisic operates mainly on the left flank.

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Both sides are seeing the top four slip away from their grasp, which would deprive them of the Champions League next season, unless one of them can win the competition.

Tottenham remain close to fourth placed Manchester United after losing the spot over the festive period and have been erratic since the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Chelsea's struggles speak for themselves.

They are currently 10th in the Prem, with a damning stat revealing their poor form under Potter - though the Blues had slipped below par even under predecessor Thomas Tuchel.