Tottenham Hotspur transfer news: River Plate striker Lucas Alario plays down possible Spurs move

Tottenham Hotspur's pursuit of River Plate striker Lucas Alario appears some way from completion after the Argentine striker admitted his agent had exaggerated claims the Premier League club are close to acquiring his services. The 23-year-old says he has a "dream" of playing in Europe but is adamant a deal has not yet been agreed.

Agent Pedro Aldave had initially claimed Spurs were interested in the forward and would be favourites to sign Alario if they matched his release clause, thought to be £11m according The Express. The north Londoners' need for a new forward has intensified in recent days with a deal for AZ Alkmaar hitman Vincent Janssen having been held up by a failure to agree a fee.

Alario scored 11 goals in 26 appearances during the 2015-16 campaign for River, a season which included an appearance against Barcelona in the Fifa Club World Cup final. The Tostado-born player has ambitions to move to Europe in the future but has no interest in fuelling speculation regarding Tottenham's interest.

"My representative did not say anything concrete on the subject and now I think of River, to get back on the pitch and give back everything this club gave me," he told Ole. "Like every player, I dream to play in Europe at some point in my career. For that, first, I have to make things right at River, to keep growing and learning."

Alario's name was initially thrust into the spotlight by his agent Aldave who suggested that Serie A club Genoa had submitted an offer for his client, but that Tottenham – who will play Champions League football next season after finishing third in the Premier League – would be favourites if they followed up their interested with an offer.

Though the representative appears to have jumped the gun, the news is further evidence that Mauricio Pochettino is working desperately to bring in a strike partner for Harry Kane, who despite scoring 25 Premier League goals last season was notably overworked during the campaign – leading to his jaded performances at the European Championships with England. "Today Alario is at River. There was only one proposal, from Genoa, and interest of Tottenham," he told LPM. "If Tottenham pays the clause, Alario is going."