AZ Alkmaar have rejected a Tottenham Hotspur bid for striker Vincent Janssen because “the difference between the offer and the asking price is too big”.
The Guardian understands that Spurs have made a £10.7m (€14m) approach for the 22-year-old, and had hoped to pay that figure over the course of three years.
However, AZ were unhappy with that proposal, and value the Netherlands international, who was the top scorer in the Eredivisie last season, at closer to €20m.
AZ technical director, Max Huiberts, is quoted by The Guardian as saying: “The difference between the offer and the asking price is too big. I hear a lot of rumours but nobody else has made an offer.”
Mauricio Pochettino is keen to add depth to his squad ahead of Tottenham’s return to the Champions League, and yesterday completed the signing of midfielder Victor Wanyama from Southampton.
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But a striker should remain his priority this summer, and Janssen seems to be on his shortlist after an impressive debut season following his £400,000 move from Almere City – fee reported by The Guardian.
The powerful and technically-gifted forward scored 27 goals for AZ in all competitions last season, and already has three goals in five caps for Holland, including one against England at Wembley.
He is young, so fits the profile of a Pochettino player, and is in the price range that Spurs have reverted to paying since throwing away the majority of the Gareth Bale money in the summer 2013.
So this deal seems a goer, but there may be some Daniel Levy hardball before it is struck.
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