Tottenham have tabled a £44.7million bid for Ajax’s highly-rated midfielder Frenkie De Jong, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The Spanish publication claim Spurs have made the blockbuster move in an attempt to beat Barcelona to the capture of the newly-capped Holland international.
Mundo Deportivo report that Barcelona lodged a £26.8million offer for De Jong following talks headed by their recruitment chief Eric Abidal, but the Londoners have stretched £18million further in their pursuit.
Good move for Tottenham?
Yes. De Jong is a rising star of European football who has what it takes to be as established one. The Ajax man made an impressive debut for Holland on Thursday night, laying on the winner for Memphis Depay after replacing Georginio Wijnaldum at half-time. He is also set to play in the Champions League this season as he takes the next steps in what many good judges claim could be a glittering career. Spurs have had great success with signing players from Ajax in recent years, with Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez travelling the path from the Dutch big hitters to north London. A £45million fee for a 21-year-old is mega money, but the signs are De Jong could be worth it.
This Is Futbol rating 7/10
Likely to happen?
It is certainly possible Spurs can sign De Jong, but Mundo Deportivio’s claim they outbid Barcelona by nearly £20million certainly seems hyoerbolic at this stage. A £45million fee would be the biggest in Tottenham’s history – ex-Ajax man Sanchez holds the current record at £42million – and it seems a bit unlikely the Londoners would stretch that far given the financial restrictions of their new stadium.
This Is Futbol rating 4/10