By PAUL JIGGINS
SPURS grabbed Hugo Lloris and stole Clint Dempsey from under Liverpool’s noses in a sensational deadline night double hit.
But they saw a club record £22million swoop for Porto playmaker Joao Moutinho collapse at the 11th hour.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy left it typically late as he snapped up Lyon keeper Lloris in a deal worth £12m — before completing an amazing £6m smash-and-grab raid for Fulham’s Dempsey.
The American, who snubbed a move to Aston Villa yesterday morning, had his heart set on going to Anfield.
But the Reds offered only £3m for the attacking midfielder, who scored 23 goals in all competitions last season.
So Dempsey, 29, signed a three-year deal after arriving at Tottenham’s Essex training base at 9.30pm last night.
He will link up with his former Fulham team-mate Mousa Dembele, who joined Spurs in a £15m switch earlier this week.
French international Lloris, 25, has agreed a four-year contract at White Hart Lane — where he will be the long-term successor to current first-choice Brad Friedel.
Tottenham will pay Lyon an initial £8m, with the rest in add-ons.
The transfer was agreed despite Lyon president Jean-Michael Aulas blasting Levy’s conduct in the negotiations.
He said: “Agreements have not been respected.”
Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas also wanted Moutinho as a replacement for Luka Modric, who joined Real Madrid in a £30m deal this week.
But despite the clubs agreeing a fee, the deal collapsed over personal terms. The player announced last night he was staying in Portugal.
