Tottenham have joined the race for Cruzeiro goalkeeper Otávio, and they are not the only London club who have been to Brazil to watch him.
Tottenham and Crystal Palace both had representatives at Arena MRV for Cruzeiro’s derby against Atlético-MG on Thursday, October 29, and the goalkeeper was the main reason for the trip. According to Globo Esporte, neither club has made an offer yet.
The timing is worth noting. Roberto De Zerbi’s side have just beaten Palace 2-0 in the league, and now the two clubs find themselves looking at the same player in South America.
What do Tottenham want with Otávio?
Honestly, there is far less detail on the Spurs side of this story than on Palace’s. We know a scout was sent to watch him, but there is nothing yet to suggest Tottenham are ready to make a move.
It does fit a pattern, though. Back in May, Spurs were credited with interest in Reims goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen, so keeping tabs on young goalkeepers is nothing new in N17.
Otávio’s stock has climbed quickly. He has become one of Cruzeiro’s most important players, earned his first senior Brazil call-up under Carlo Ancelotti and signed a new contract that runs until 2031.
Why Crystal Palace have a head start
Palace’s interest comes with a backstory. Reports in Belo Horizonte name their man at the derby as Alessandro Brito, who now heads the club’s scouting department, and he knows Otávio well.
Brito previously worked at Botafogo, where he recommended signing the goalkeeper more than once. His latest attempt came earlier this year, when Otávio was still waiting for his big breakthrough, but Cruzeiro would not entertain a sale even then.
Now he is watching him again with Premier League money behind him. That kind of long-term conviction from a head of scouting usually counts for something when a club decides who to chase.
How much would Cruzeiro want for Otávio?
Nottingham Forest actually got there first. Back in June, reports in Brazil said Forest were preparing a €13m (£11.2m) offer, and there were initial contacts, but the move went no further.
That figure would not get anyone very far now. Cruzeiro will reportedly not even sit down to negotiate for less than €20m (£17.3m), while other reports had put the starting price at €25m (£21.6m), so the exact number is still unclear.
Cruzeiro and the goalkeeper’s representatives expect offers to arrive before January, but nobody has started talking about where he might go. For now, Otávio’s focus is on helping Cruzeiro secure direct qualification for the 2027 Copa Libertadores.
Where does this leave Antonin Kinsky?
This is the part Spurs fans will care about most. Antonin Kinsky kept Tottenham’s first clean sheet in a win at Stamford Bridge since 1986, yet in three or four of the opening seven league games he conceded a goal he probably should have kept out.
That is exactly why a scouting trip like this gets noticed. Nobody is saying Kinsky is about to lose his place, but a club watching a goalkeeper already called up by Brazil is a club thinking about the position beyond this season.
Is Otávio worth €20m to Spurs?
My view: watching him makes complete sense, buying him in January makes far less. Cruzeiro hold every card with that 2031 deal, they are chasing Libertadores football and the asking price has already jumped well past what Forest were ready to pay in June.
Kinsky has also just shown at Stamford Bridge what he can do when the team in front of him settles. Give him the rest of the season, keep the file on Otávio open, and if the Brazilian keeps rising, Spurs can go back with a proper offer in the summer. Palace, with Brito so keen, may not wait that long, and that is the risk De Zerbi’s recruitment team will have to weigh.
