Brazilian Dispels Real Madrid Talk Ahead of Tottenham Switch

Corinthians midfielder Paulinho has denied reports suggesting Real Madrid have attempted to thwart his move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Andre Villas-Boas' side are believed to have wrapped up a £17m deal to bring the box to box midfielder to White Hart Lane in a move that is expected to be concluded once the Confederations Cup concludes on Sunday; a tournament in which the 25-year-old has starred in.

But reports suggesting the La Liga giants are still pondering a late move for Paulinho have ramped up in the past 24 hours after the club officially unveiled Carlo Ancelotti as their new head coach.

Real have refrained from officially beginning their summer transfer business as they have sought to replace Jose Mourinho, who left his post to return to Chelsea at the end of last season.

But with a new manager installed, Los Blancos are expected to announce their transfer plans imminently, with club president Florentino Perez having already announced the club have agreed a deal to sign Malaga's sought after midfielder Isco just a days after Ancelotti's official appointment.

A number of reports have suggested the former Chelsea and Paris Saint Germain manager wants to bring Paulinho to the Bernabeu and will receive the full backing from the club's hierarchy. But the midfielder maintains the only offer on the table is still from north London.

"There is nothing true about Real; the only proposal that came to me was from Tottenham," Paulinho told reporters.

"I've talked to them but I'll look at it after the Confederations Cup."

The Brazilian international, who has previously been linked with moves to Chelsea and Inter Milan, gave another indication to why Villas-Boas and the club's new technical director Franco Baldini are so keen to secure his services on Thursday evening.

Taking on Uruguay for the right to compete in Sunday's final, Paulinho played an integral role in the game's opening goal, finding Neymar with an intelligent through ball who guided it towards the net before Fred fortuitously scrambled the ball in.

The midfielder was then in place to meet the Barcelona forward's corner kick with a towering header to secure the win in the dying minutes of the game.