Tottenham Target Mateo Musacchio to Decide Future by End of Week

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly set to learn the fate in their chase for Villarreal defender Matio Musacchio by the end of the week.

Mauricio Pochettino is a big admirer and has been keen to sign his fellow Argentine this summer.

Earlier reports had claimed that Tottenham had agreed a £17m fee with the La Liga club and were close to completing a transfer.

Villarreal manager Marcelino is reluctant to sell the defender, but confirmed that he could be sold if all the right conditions were met.

"It's a situation with three parties: the player, the buyer and the club in the middle and, as I have said many times, if the club sell an important player it's because the right conditions to do so have been met," Marcelino said.

However, the Spanish club's boss has now revealed that by the end of this week it will be clear if Musacchio will remain with the club or depart for pastures new.

"We expect a definitive solution for this week. I believe that Musacchio will stay with us but I cannot confirm this 100 per cent," Marcelino said, as quoted in the Express.

The 23-year-old defender has come up through the youth ranks at the Spanish club and has become a mainstay in the team for the last few years. During the previous campaign he played a key role and helped Villarreal grab a place in the Europa League.

Musacchio was named the club's 2013-14 player of the season, and his top performances have attracted interest from Tottenham, who are keen on taking the defender to north London.

The White Hart Lane outfit have already made four signings and all except Michel Vorm have been defenders, left-back Ben Davies from Swansea City, centre-back Eric Dier from Sporting Lisbon and right-back DeAndre Yedlin from MLS side Seattle Sounders.