Tottenham are keeping tabs on 19-year-old defender Arthur Dias from Atletico Paranaense. The Londoners have already put in a bid of €21 million for the Brazilian, but they were swiftly rebuffed as the club is holding out for a minimum of €30 million.
In light of the growing interest, Dias has spoken candidly about his future for the first time. The defender emphasised that he is not involved in negotiations and is wholly focused on his current club.
He stated:
I leave all questions about offers and interest from other clubs to my agent. I’m focused on Atletico Paranaense, and I have a contract that I need to honour.
Despite this, he did not shy away from expressing a desire to compete at the highest level in European football down the line.
Every footballer dreams of playing in the Champions League and in one of the biggest leagues. But at the moment, I am completely focused on my work.
It’s nice to see such interest because it means I’m performing well on the pitch.
Competition for Dias is intensifying, with clubs like Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, and Brentford also linked to the defender.
Meanwhile, European heavyweights such as Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta, Como, Benfica, RB Leipzig, and Bayer are all keeping an eye on the situation. In Brazil, he has also been associated with Flamengo, while inquiries have come in from clubs in Saudi Arabia.
As of now, Tottenham remain the only club reported to have made a concrete significant offer.
The president of Atletico Paranaense, Mario Celso Petraglia, has made it clear that he won't entertain offers below €30 million. Should they receive that amount, Dias would become the most expensive homegrown player in their history, surpassing the previous record of €18 million for Bento’s transfer to Al-Nassr.
Despite the multitude of suitors, negotiations have yet to reach a resolution. While Dias hasn’t named a preferred club, his comments signal a long-term ambition to advance his career in Europe.
