Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is one of the best negotiators in world football. He is the man who got Spurs a world-record £85.3m – fee according to BBC Sport – out of Real Madrid for Gareth Bale back in 2013.
The Times are now reporting that Levy plans to use first-team outcast Andros Townsend to secure a £14m discount off a January deal to sign West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino.
Townsend has not featured for Tottenham since an 80-minute appearance in a 2-1 defeat to Anderlecht in October and his days at White Hart Lane could be numbered.
According to The Times, West Brom are interested in Townsend, but the Baggies are keen to keep any deal to sign him separate from Berahino’s potential departure to Spurs. Conversely, Spurs want to strike a part-exchange deal.
Spurs tried and failed to sign Berahino in the summer. West Brom were not happy with the way Tottenham planned to pay for the former England U21 star – a drawn-out payment structure, according to The Mirror.
Berahino’s form has dipped significantly since last season , when he scored 20 goals in all competitions. He has only netted three in 14 Premier League games this term.
The Telegraph reported last night that West Brom manager Tony Pulis is growing increasingly frustrated with Berahino because of his poor punctuality.