'It’s not true' - Como president speaks out on Tottenham's pursuit of Nico Paz amid Real Madrid return links

Tottenham are on the lookout for a new attacking midfielder in the final week of the transfer window, with both Maddison and Kulusevski currently out with long-term injuries. They have fallen short in pursuit of Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze so far this summer and Spurs are thought to have responded by making former Real Madrid youngster Paz a target.

Paz came through the youth ranks at Madrid before leaving for Cesc Fabregas' Como, where he impressed last season with six goals and eight assists in 35 Serie A games. That haul is thought to have attracted the interest of Tottenham, but club president Mirwan Suwarso has revealed some of the speculation around the saga isn't true.

“It’s not true that we rejected a proposal,” Suwarso told Corriere della Sera.

“Nobody makes an offer knowing that we must forward it to Real Madrid, who can match it. At some point, we feared Nico Paz could return to Real Madrid. He was raised in the Real Madrid academy and dreams of playing at the Bernabeu one day.”

Paz is known to be keen on a return to Madrid one day and Los Blancos will reportedly match any bid that comes in for the 20-year-old to ensure his future is at the Bernabeu. Their move for the Argentina international could come next year, with it believed Madrid have a buy-back clause worth €10 million (£8.6m/$11.6m).

For all their off-field struggles, Spurs have managed to make the ideal start to life under new manager Thomas Frank. Their recent victory over Manchester City means the north Londoners are one of just three teams to have started the new Premier League campaign perfectly alongside rivals Arsenal and reigning champions Liverpool.