Revealed: Tottenham pull out of race to sign midfielder

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on:

17 Jun 2019, 1:30 am

By Wayne Veysey

Tottenham have pulled out of the race to sign Monaco midfielder Youri Tielemans after being put off by his soaring price tag, Football Insider understands.

The north Londoners were interested in signing Tielemans on loan in January and, again, on a permanent deal this summer.

But a source with knowledge of Spurs' recruitment has told Football Insider that the club are unwilling to match the £40million-plus price tag they have been quoted for the Belgium international.

Tottenham are working on multiple midfielder deals but will concentrate their transfer activity in the coming weeks on Lyon's midfield powerhouse Tanguy Ndombele and Real Betis playmaker Giovani Lo Celso.

The Londoners are convinced Ndombele and Lo Celso are at a different level to Tielemans despite the strong impression he made on loan at Leicester in the second half of last season.

The 22-year-old scored three goals and supplied five assists from 13 league matches for the Foxes and this has secured him interest from English clubs in this summer's market.

Monaco are ready to cash in on the 23-times Belgium international but are demanding suitors shell out nearly double the £23million fee they paid to Anderlecht in the summer of 2017.

Leicester remain keen to sign Tielemans permanently, and there has also been reported interest from other Premier League clubs.

In other Spurs news, it can be REVEALED that the club are set to offer £102million for a player in combined fee and wages.

Tottenham Hotspur

Leicester City