Representatives from the Premier League club attended matches at the Arena da Baixada, including fixtures against Atlético-GO and Vitória, to assess a player who has quickly become a first-team regular in the Brazilian top flight.
Arthur Dias, born in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, only made his senior debut in July 2025 but has started consistently ever since, extending his contract with Athletico to the end of 2028 in September.
He has featured 15 times this season, completing every match, and stands out for his composure in possession and defensive solidity — averaging 1.5 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game, while being dribbled past just 0.2 times per match.
The left-footed centre-back also won the CONMEBOL Under-20 Championship with Brazil's youth side in 2025, adding to growing interest from Europe.
Athletico are not willing to let Dias leave immediately and plan to keep him in Brazil until at least the end of the year. The club are expected to demand between £17 million and £21 million for the 18-year-old should a move be agreed.
For Tottenham, this represents early groundwork rather than an imminent push, reports Globo Esporte. The club have identified Dias, gathered live data, and now face a decision on whether to firm up their interest before rival clubs do the same.