Revealed: Thorpe move from Tottenham collapsed at 11th hour after medical passed
Elliot Thorpe passed a medical at Hoffenheim over the summer but the move collapsed at the eleventh hour as they couldn't agreed compensation with Tottenham, Football Insider understands.
The Wales Under-21 star had been all set to join the Bundesliga club and join the legions of young British talents in Germany.
But an industry source has told Football Insider that the plug was pulled over the six-figure sum of compensation Spurs wanted for the 20-year-old's development costs.
The London giants had offered Thorpe a new contract to replace his deal which was due to expire at the end of June.
As revealed by Football Insider on 28th May, the young midfielder knocked it back in order to join a club where there is a clearer first-team pathway.
Spurs had protected themselves with the contract offer as that meant Thorpe could not leave for free.
The buying club had to pay the Premier League outfit compensation for his development costs.
A fee could not be agreed between Hoffenheim and Tottenham, which meant that Thorpe was left without a club.
The rising star is now eligible to join a new club on a free transfer, absolving the need for any fee or compensation to be paid to his old team.
As revealed by Football Insider, Championship duo Bristol City and Cardiff City lead the race to win the out-of-window battle.
Thorpe was called up by Wales Under-21s in June after making a big impression for the Spurs Under-23s.
He played 21 times for the Under-23s and most memorably scored twice against Liverpool in April.