Tottenham chasing Elmas, offering Janssen

Tottenham chasing Elmas, offering Janssen

Vincent Janssen has one-year left on his contract at Tottenham and has been made available to clubs for £7.12 million (€8m).

In previous windows, Janssen has resisted all attempts to be sold, which would have involved a reduction in his annual salary. He may not be a big earner at Spurs, but he came from Dutch football where he was earning a third of his Spurs wages.

He hasn't been a success at Tottenham and can't expect that level of wage at his next club. His career has therefore taken a nose dive and from being the first choice striker for Holland he no longer gets anywhere near the squad.

He has had injuries, a broken leg shortly after a loan spell to Turkey with Fenerbache and basically missed a whole season.

Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow has made inquiries for him, Fenerbache has also spoken with his representatives and are confident he will return to Turkey. However, the Turkish press is as bad as the Portuguese press with wild speculation.

The news from Turkey is that we want 19-year-old (20 in September) Macedonian international central midfielder Elif Elmas as a part of the Janssen deal.

The two clubs are agreeable, we are just apart on the fee. Tottenham have offered Vincent Janssen plus £10.68 million (€12m) whereas Fenerbache wants Janssen plus £16.02 million (€18m).

The clubs are not that far apart and you would have thought a deal would be done, given the tax regime in Turkey should suit Janssens understandable desire to secure his financial future.

Last season Elmas operated mainly as a central midfield player but towards the end of the season was operating as an attacking midfielder. He is a player we have followed for at least a couple of years and whom we have been linked with before in previous windows due to us scouting him and the press assuming that means an imminent purchase.

He has been scouted by Liverpool and Atletico Madrid are reported to be willing to pay £12.46 million (€14m) for him. Lazio are reported to be sending scouts to watch him during the current international break for the games against France and Iceland.

There are also reports that his father Cevat Elmas has met Inter Milan Sporting Director Piero Ausilio. Fiorentina, Napoli, Manchester City, Manchester United have all sent scouts to watch him in Turkey.

The latest reports are that he has chosen to go to Spain and that Atletico officials will travel to Turkey next week to finalise a deal. Now that appears to be just the player agreeing on terms, not Fererbache accepting their £12.46 million (€14m) offer.

Should we not be able to get Elmas then we have asked for £8.01 million (€9m) for Janssen alone.

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