London, Jan 28 (IANS): Tottenham have suffered a second embarrassing blow with Liverpool hijacking their move for Porto's Luis Diaz. Spurs have been in talks with Porto over the highly-rated Colombia winger but Liverpool are now close to completing a deal.

Spurs were hopeful of signing Diaz as the club missed out to get Adama Traore, who is set to join Barcelona on loan from Wolves. Liverpool are said to be offering an initial £37m, with bonuses included in the deal that will only be triggered if Diaz becomes a big success at Anfield, Sky Sports reports.

Liverpool have sent a team to Argentina, in anticipation of doing a medical there, with a timescale of about 72 hours expected for a deal that has been complicated by the player being in South America.

Porto's Diaz was Liverpool top choice, but Spurs' interest prompted Liverpool to act, and they are working on a deal worth an initial €45m (£37m), plus a maximum of €15m (£12.5m) in adds-on.

The double transfer blow leaves Spurs with less than four days to make the improvements to Antonio Conte's squad before Monday's 11 pm transfer deadline.

Negotiations have been led by Liverpool's current deputy sporting director, Julian Ward, who is fluent in Portuguese and set to replace sporting director Michael Edwards in the summer. The Reds are today sending a delegation to Argentina, where Diaz is on international duty with Colombia, to try to complete the deal.

The news has increased the pressure on Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and managing director Fabio Paratici to do business in the final days of the transfer window, with manager Conte has made no bones about the middling quality of his squad and the urgent need for new players.