“We can’t afford to lose him” – Teammate calls on Tottenham star to remain as Spurs seal agreement.

On January 14, UOL reported that Tottenham Hotspur had reached a preliminary agreement with Bahia over a permanent transfer for Alejo Véliz. Last weekend, Pagina12 added that Spurs have accepted the Brazilian club’s €8.6m bid.

The striker was loaned to Rosario Central for the season in July. The 22-year-old has registered five goals and one assist in 1,361 minutes across 16 appearances, and Tottenham’s recall option has now expired.

As a result, Thomas Frank’s side must negotiate with the Argentine club to terminate the loan early before completing a move to Bahia, who are part of the City Football Group, the same ownership group as Manchester City. Four days ago, El Ciudadano claimed the offer appeals to both Tottenham and the player, while Cádena 3 reported on Tuesday that Spurs could resolve the situation by paying compensation to Rosario Central. That step has not yet been taken.

Véliz’s teammate Enzo Giménez addressed the situation during a press conference on Thursday, with La Capital relaying his comments. The outlet noted that the 27-year-old Paraguayan has built a close friendship with the Tottenham forward.

When asked if he had discussed a potential move to Brazil with Véliz, Giménez encouraged him to remain at Rosario Central.

“I don’t like to talk about personal issues. All I want is for him to stay with us because he’s a very good player. The team and the club need him. We’re delighted with him, so hopefully he can stay a bit longer,” he said.

Véliz joined Tottenham from Rosario Central in August 2023 but struggled to secure regular minutes in north London. He later spent time on loan at Sevilla and Espanyol over an 18-month period, where he failed to make a strong impact. After returning to his former club last summer, Spurs are now looking to generate funds from his sale.