Report: Tottenham have beaten Liverpool to signing of Willian

Reports surfacing in Russia this morning suggest Tottenham have agreed a deal to sign Brazilian winger Willian, Liverpool’s main transfer target.

The Reds have been linked with a move for the exciting Anzhi Makhachkala midfielder for the last couple of weeks, but in recent days it became apparent that Spurs were entering the chase for him.

Sports.ru report today that the North London club are close to completing a move for the 25-year-old:

Tottenham have reached an agreement in principal with Anzhi for Willian. The probability of the transaction is very high.

The player will now undergo a medical and contract negotiations.

Meanwhile, the BBC‘s Ben Smith also tweeted:

#LFC have, I'm told, missed out on Willian. Leandro Damiao not on list of alternatives.

— Ben Smith (@BSmith) August 20, 2013

Having lost out on transfer targets Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Diego Costa this summer, if Liverpool have indeed missed out on Willian, it will be the biggest kick in the teeth yet.

Sport-Express report that Tottenham and Anzhi have agreed terms for Willian (€35m plus percentage of future transfer).

— Russian Football News (@RusFootballNews) August 20, 2013

Tottenham, after all, cannot offer Willian Champions League football, just like the Reds.

Furthermore, when discussing his future with the press last week, Willian namechecked Liverpool as a club he was waiting to be offered a deal from.

Back on Merseyside, Liverpool look to have completed a season-long loan deal for Valencia left-back Aly Cissokho. The French defender was pictured at the club last night by his brother, Demba.