Tottenham's Paulo Dybala transfer hopes fade but Giovani Lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon deals are still on

Tottenham are hoping to complete deadline-day moves for Giovani Lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon — but belief in a sensational deal for Paulo Dybala appears to be fading.

Lo Celso, 23, is expected to join from Real Betis on loan with an obligation to buy — helping the Spanish club to reduce a 20 per cent sell-on clause due to his former club Paris Saint-Germain — in a deal worth £55million, while Sessegnon is set to sign for an initial £20m plus midfielder Josh Onomah. Both players were having medicals at Hotspur Way, the club's Enfield training base, on Thursday morning.

Earlier, Spurs thought they had agreed a £65m deal with Juventus for Dybala and found a way to fund the 25-year-old’s wages, but this afternoon the move is in serious doubt, with Juventus reportedly having second thoughts about selling the Argentine, while concerns over the player’s image rights deal and agent fees remain.

Dybala told friends today that he was keen to leave Juventus and was open to joining Spurs, but the Italian champions have still not sourced a replacement this morning. Juve are interested in Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi and could use Dybala in part-exchange later in the European transfer window, with clubs on the continent having until the end of the month to add to their squads.

Lo Celso’s long-awaited arrival paves the way for Christian Eriksen to join a European club after the 5pm transfer deadline, with the Dane ending talks with Manchester United yesterday, citing a desire to play in Spain.

Signing both Lo Celso and Dybala would have represented a remarkable coup for Tottenham, particularly after United failed in a move for the Juve forward last week, evoking memories of their capture of Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa in 1978 – but the club can still reflect on an impressive summer of business, having already broken their transfer record to sign Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon for £63m.

Lo Celso’s arrival would take the number of Argentines in Pochettino’s squad to four, along with Erik Lamela, Juan Foyth and Paulo Gazzaniga, and make a mockery of the manager’s suggestion last week that he has no say in the club’s transfer policy.

Pochettino is a huge admirer of the playmaker and made him one of his top targets at the start of the summer, along with Ndombele.

Lo Celso scored 16 goals in 45 appearances in Spain last season, while Sessegnon made 35 league appearances as Fulham were relegated to the Championship.

The deal for the 19-year-old, who had one year remaining on his contract at Craven Cottage, includes significant add-ons and he will be expected to challenge for a place in Pochettino's first-team immediately, particularly with the future of England left-back Danny Rose still uncertain. Rose is a target for Watford, while young defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is set to join Stoke City in a £6m deal.