The agent of Genoa centre-back Radu Dragusin has confirmed that the 21-year-old is set to sign for Tottenham Hotspur and admits that he was in disbelief when his client turned down the chance to move to Bayern Munich.
The Romania international is due to touch down in London on Wednesday in order to complete his Tottenham medical, and confirmation of his move to the Premier League could supposedly arrive within a matter of hours.
Dragusin will become Tottenham's second signing of the January window after the Lilywhites poached Timo Werner on loan from RB Leipzig, and Spurs are expected to pay an initial €25m (£21.5m), potentially rising to €30m (£25.8m) with performance-related add-ons.
Tottenham faced competition from Napoli and Bayern Munich for the services of Dragusin, with the German champions doing their best to hijack a move late on Tuesday evening, only to see their advances rejected.
Speaking to Romanian outlet GSP, Dragusin's representative Florin Manea revealed that Bayern offered the 21-year-old a higher wage packet to make the move to the Bundesliga, but the ex-Juventus man had his heart set on joining Tottenham.
"Everything is ready. We will fly to London and after the medical visit the transfer will be formalized. This morning, at 8 o'clock, the decision was made," Manea explained.
"We were determined to go to Tottenham, but the offer came from Bayern. And we stopped in place. I was on my way to the airport. I said we have to think carefully and evaluate. Bayern is one of the biggest clubs. I can't believe I turned Bayern down!
"Naturally, Radu also thought about Bayern's offer. I made the decision in the morning. It's hard to make such a choice. Bayern strongly wanted him, but the official offer came on the last night.
"There was more money from Bayern, but he said that this is the right step in his career. We stayed up all night to think. I did not sleep at all. We stayed to see what the pluses and minuses are. Both Napoli and AC Milan wanted him. But he dreamed of playing in the Premier League from a young age.
"He didn't choose the money. There were more at Bayern. He said this is the right step for his career. It is to be appreciated that he chose his career before money. I don't know how many would have refused the offer we had from Bayern. There were many who didn't think we were denying Bayern. I said this is the right step.
"I informed Bayern that this was the decision, that they came in the last hundred meters and that it was difficult to change our decision. Maybe in the future we will get there. We are a little confused. To turn down Bayern... But it was ultimately what Radu and his family wanted. He is happy. We're going to Tottenham!"
Dragusin's switch to North London will also see right-back Djed Spence join Genoa on loan from Spurs with an option to buy, and the former will depart Il Grifone on the back of a highly successful two-year spell since originally joining on loan from Juventus in 2022.
Dragusin played every game of Genoa's promotion-winning Serie B season last term and has two goals and one assist to show from 19 Serie A starts in 2023-24, but he will now commit the next few years of his career to Tottenham, whom Manea has revealed want to tie him down until 2030.
"At one point, Tottenham was a bit far from what Genoa wanted, but I said that if the clubs agree, we will choose Tottenham. If not, it means that God wanted it that way and we go to Bayern," Manea added.
"Tottenham made great efforts. The patron and sports director were very happy. They both worked very hard. They worked until three in the morning to reach an agreement. Now they want him for six and a half years. We have a five and a half year offer. There are still small details to be worked out, 99% we are understood."
Should Dragusin be registered as a Tottenham player by 12pm on Friday, he will be eligible to make his debut for Ange Postecoglou's side in Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
