Spurs face uphill task to sign La Liga midfielder despite €25m option | OneFootball

Tottenham Face Battle for Cardoso Despite Purchase Option Deal

Complex Deal Leaves Spurs in Limbo

Tottenham Hotspur may be set for a summer transfer tussle, despite having an apparent head start in the race for Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso. As Relevo reported, Spurs included a €25 million (£21.6m) purchase option for the American as part of Giovani Lo Celso’s move to Spain last year. However, the agreement is non-mandatory—and now appears far from decisive.

While the structure of such transfer clauses often suggests intent and planning, this one may instead serve as a warning of how football’s shifting financial sands can destabilise even the most detailed strategies. Cardoso, under contract with Betis until 2030, has not publicly committed to any move, and other clubs are believed to be circling.

Relevo’s latest insight adds weight to the uncertainty, stating that Tottenham’s purchase option between June 30 and July 10, 2025, “doesn’t guarantee control over the player.” Betis, meanwhile, are reportedly doing everything they can to retain the 23-year-old.

Photo: IMAGO

Rising Star Attracting Broader Interest

Cardoso has become a key figure for Manuel Pellegrini’s side in La Liga. With 35 appearances this season—29 of them starts—three goals, and one assist, the US international has cemented himself as a vital cog in a side chasing Champions League football.

The player’s maturity and discipline in the midfield anchor role have not gone unnoticed. His combination of composure and physical presence makes him a natural fit for Premier League football. Yet Tottenham’s potential failure to qualify for Europe could weaken their negotiating position.

Complicating matters further, his representatives are understood to be exploring other “more lucrative interests” beyond North London. With wealthier or more competitive suitors in the frame, Spurs may need more than a pre-arranged clause to seal the deal.

Cardoso Staying Focused Amid Speculation

For his part, Cardoso remains focused on his current role and growth at Betis. In March, he told AS:

His words reflect a grounded attitude, but also a willingness to let events unfold on their own terms. That stance is hardly reassuring for Tottenham, who might have seen this purchase clause as a quietly assured summer capture.

Spurs Must Act with Clarity and Conviction

If Tottenham are serious about bringing Cardoso to N17, their approach needs to reflect the ambition of a club striving for top-four status under Ange Postecoglou. There’s no room for hesitation when rival clubs—possibly with European football guaranteed—are circling.

Whether it’s stepping up dialogue with Cardoso’s camp, accelerating qualification ambitions, or adjusting their offer, Tottenham will need to show intent and structure. Otherwise, another high-potential target may simply pass them by.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From a Tottenham fan’s perspective, this report feels like déjà vu. Another exciting talent, another potential signing laced with uncertainty. The inclusion of a non-mandatory purchase clause is clever business on paper, but it risks being rendered meaningless if the club cannot back it up with results or stronger financial incentives.

Cardoso is precisely the type of player Postecoglou’s evolving system needs—young, disciplined, and hungry. His rise at Betis proves he can operate under pressure in a progressive side. But the bigger concern is how Spurs continue to hover around these deals without closing them.

If Tottenham miss out on European qualification, this could be yet another target that drifts away due to indecision or lack of immediate appeal. Fans will be hoping this isn’t another case of ‘almost signed’, like with previous targets who lit up Europe elsewhere.