Spurs splash the cash anticipating Gareth Bale windfall

London: Tottenham began spending Gareth Bale’s world-record £85 million (Dh488.80 million) transfer fee on Tuesday with stunning moves for Brazil winger Willian and Roma forward Erik Lamela.

Willian was in London finalising his £30 million move from Anzhi Makhachkala after turning down a move to Liverpool. The 25-year-old, brought in to replace Real Madrid-bound Bale on the left, had a medical and was discussing personal terms last night.

The move for Willian will break Tottenham’s transfer record for a third time this summer, but their spending is not over.

Spurs have already signed Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli, Etienne Capoue and Paulinho in a staggering £60-million spree. Now Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has flown in from his Miami home to press ahead with negotiations for Lamela and step up interest in his team-mate Miralem Pjanic.

The quest for Argentina forward Lamela, 21, shows the preference of manager Andre Villas-Boas for the best South American talent. Spurs hope to sign him before Sunday’s home Premier League clash with Swansea.

Bosnian Pjanic, who has spent two years at Roma after moving from Lyon for £8 million, is also on Tottenham’s wanted list.

Real Madrid left back Fabio Coentrao is expected to agree to move to Tottenham as part of the package for Bale, who is awaiting the go-ahead sign to head for Spain. Coentrao, signed for £30 million from Benfica by Jose Mourinho in 2011, will replace Benoit Assou-Ekotto in defence.

In attack, Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe are likely to leave White Hart Lane.

Tottenham have been busy all week and failed on Sunday night to sign Osvaldo from Roma because he had already agreed terms with Southampton.

Spurs are using technical director Franco Baldini, who has an intimate knowledge of former club Roma, to secure their latest batch of targets. Baldini signed Lamela from River Plate when he was Roma’s technical director.

Lamela is a regular in the Roma side — he scored 15 goals in 33 Serie A appearances last season — but Baldini is determined to land the forward and negotiations began in London yesterday. Spurs have also asked for playmaker Pjanic, another regular in the Roma team, as part of the package.

Tottenham have travelled to Tblisi for their Europa League qualifier at the Dinamo Arena in Georgia tomorrow evening. By the time Villas-Boas and his team return to north London, Levy should have wrapped up the moves for Willian and Lamela.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway has been charged with improper conduct and bringing the game into disrepute over comments about referee Mark Clattenburg after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat by Spurs. Holloway alleged: “Certain clubs get fouls and others don’t.”