One of the ways for any team to stop their players from leaving them is to slap a heavy transfer fee on them.
It is tactic that Spurs have been using for a long time and it seems that they will be on the receiving end of the same hardball tactics this summer.
The Lilywhites are interested in signing Lille’s Victor Osimhen (TeamTalk) after the Nigerian’s fine start to the French Ligue 1 season.
He scored 14 goals in the French top flight this season and although he only joined his present side this season he might be sold in the summer.
MORE: Tottenham tipped to sell four players to fund transfer buys
Spurs would love to add him to their team, however, they might be priced out of a move for him after Lille’s asking price for his signature was revealed.
A report from RMC via football365 has just revealed that the French side is looking to make around 80 million euros from his sale and the report further claims that they are unlikely to come down on their valuation.
This would all but end Tottenham’s interest in the attacker because Jose Mourinho won’t have the money to spend that much on a striker that would likely be a backup to Harry Kane when he joins.
It would be great if we had a proper scouting network that could spot players earlier in their careers. I’m sure Osimhem wasn’t expensive when Lille bought him. Apart from Dele Ali we never seem to spot these diamonds that need a little polishing. I don’t count buying Eriksen or Vertonghen or Toby as brilliant talent spotting. They were at clubs that are renowned for nurturing talent. They probably had made their international debuts when we signed them.