Tottenham beat Manchester United to Serge Aurier but need Home Office approval to sign £23million PSG star
Ivory Coast international is banned from entering the UK after being found guilty of assaulting a police officer in Paris
TOTTENHAM hope the Home Office will grant Serge Aurier a visa to seal a £23million switch from Paris Saint-Germain.
The clubs have already agreed the deal and he has shaken hands on a five-year contract.
But Tottenham are still sweating on getting international clearance for the Ivory Coast defender — after he was found guilty of assaulting a police officer last year.
It led to him being refused entry to the UK when PSG came to play Arsenal in last season’s Champions League.
Aurier, 24, has launched an appeal against his conviction and Tottenham are waiting to see whether the Home Office will allow him into the country.
Border Control chiefs are not the only obstacle standing in their way.
Manchester United are also said to be interested in signing the star.
Reports in France claim he would prefer a move to Old Trafford — even though PSG would rather he joined Tottenham.
Spurs have already bolstered their back-line after the club-record acquisition of Davinson Sanchez from Ajax.
But Pochettino wants another right-back after Kyle Walker's Manchester City switch left Kyle Walker-Peters as Kieran Trippier's only back-up.
And news of Aurier’s decision will be a blow to United boss Jose Mourinho who was keen to add the full-back to his ranks to provide competition to Antonio Valencia.
Keep up-to-date with all the latest transfer news and gossip in our live blog