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Tottenham edge closer to striker deal as club line up replacement - report
By Will Butcher
Tottenham have been given a boost in their pursuit of Vincent Janssen as his current club AZ Alkmaar step up their hunt for a replacement, according to a report.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has sanctioned a new £16.5million bid for the striker to meet the asking price of the Dutch club and seal the transfer within days.
AZ chiefs have held off from agreeing a fee but there is a growing sense in Holland that a deal is imminent.
Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf have reported that AZ have identified Lillestrom striker Fred Friday as the successor to Janssen.
Friday has started the Norwegian season in fantastic form, scoring eight goals in 12 matches and AZ officials believe he is the man to fill the boots that Janssen is set to leave at the spearhead of the AZ attack.
This is encouraging news for Spurs fans and manager Mauricio Pochettino, who have intensified their pursuit of Janssen after missing out on Michy Batshuayi, who joined Chelsea on Sunday for £33 million.
Janssen will cost half of Batshuayi but was the top scorer in the Dutch League this season with a virtual goal-a-game haul of 27 goals in 34 games. In all competitions, he struck 32 times in 49 matches.
In other Tottenham news, Hull’s ex-Spurs midfielders could help convince Ryan Mason to jump ship.