Schalke turn down White Hart Lane approach.
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Tottenham’s approach to bring forward Lewis Holtby’s move to White Hart Lane has been rejected with Schalke telling the Premier League they must meet the £1.5million asking price.
The free transfer signing of Holtby was sealed earlier in January, but the German under-21 international captain is not due to move to Tottenham until the end of the season when his contract expires with the Bundesliga side.
But a season-ending injury to Brazilian midfielder Sandro, who has undergone surgery on a knee ligament injury, prompted Tottenham to enquire about bring the signing of 22-year-old Holtby forward to this month but that offer has been rejected.
Schalke are wanting £1.5million to allow Holtby to depart this month, and the Daily Mail quotes general manager Horst Heldt as saying: “We are in talks about a move in this transfer period, but there is no agreement. Tottenham contacted us, because they want Lewis now. We will decide in the coming days.”
Holtby scored the winner in Schalke’s dramatic 5-4 Bundesliga win over Hanover and created two other goals, and Heldt added: “Lewis is a good character, he will give everything to the last day for the club.”