Tottenham Hotspur have Daniel James on their radar as they look to potentially bring in their eighth addition of the summer, according to Lyall Thomas – but Jack Harrison would be their preferred target from Elland Road.
The Sky Sports reporter has been speaking on the Last Word On Spurs YouTube channel and has highlighted the Welshman as a player appreciated in N17.
Spurs look focused on offloading some of their unwanted players with the likes of Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele departing, but as more look set for an exit, it appears there may be some room to add to the squad.
James has been linked with a potential move to Spurs over the last few days, with journalist Alan Nixon the first to report the Lilywhites’ interest in the winger.
And Thomas believes he is certainly a player who is rated by those at Spurs and will be an option as the club go into the final week of the window, with Bryan Gil also set to depart.
He said: “As for Dan James, he’s another player on Spurs’ list. I think they have more interest in Jack Harrison at Leeds than Dan James. But the valuation on Jack Harrison is even higher than Anthony Gordon, as I understand it.
“Leeds really value Jack Harrison at north of £60m towards £70-80m, is what I was told earlier in the window. I know Spurs made some enquiries about him in January and earlier in the window, I think after the final game of the season and that was what they were told, so I think they quickly stopped wasting their time on that one.
“[James is] on the list and there is an interest there, but it’s not gone any further than that at this stage – again, which suggests that Spurs have got more quality players that they potentially look at.”
TIF Thoughts on Thomas’ comments…
Jack Harrison has already made a blistering start to the current campaign with one goal and three assists in three games, which led to Brenden Aaronson calling him a ‘baller‘ after the win over Wolves.
Thomas has suggested Tottenham’s interest in the winger has not gone any further than that, but with Gil now looking set to join Valencia on loan for the season, we will be interested to see if this may develop – though we don’t think Spurs would be willing to go as high as £80m, which is a great deal more than the touted price for fellow target Anthony Gordon.
Would Daniel James improve Spurs' squad?
Yes
No
Spurs have spent around £107m this summer of the £150m made available by the board, so there would appear to still be money available for Fabio Paratici to use.
However, James cost Leeds around £26m last summer, and although he has not shown amazing form, with four years left on his deal, it is difficult to imagine Spurs getting him on the cheap.
And given he only returned four league goals in 34 appearances last season, we are not convinced James is a player who would improve Spurs’ squad if he was to join.