Tottenham striker transfer twist after key decision made - sources

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Published on:

19 Apr 2016, 8:09 am

By Editor Wayne Veysey | 17 years experience of breaking major stories at Evening Standard, PA and Goal, including exclusives like this

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Tottenham will not pursue a summer deal for January transfer target Moussa Dembele, Football Insider sources understand.

Dembele underwent a White Hart Lane medical in the final days of the winter window but the plug was pulled on the deal at the eleventh hour and he returned to Fulham.

The teenage striker is out of contract in the summer and can move for free, although an English club would have to pay Fulham compensation under Premier League guidelines.

But a Tottenham recruitment source has told Football Insider that Spurs are no longer interested in signing the 19-year-old forward.

Dembele has had an impressive season for Championship strugglers Fulham, scoring 16 goals in 43 matches in all competitions and was rewarded with a place on the three-man shortlist for Football League Young Player of the Year award.

Dembele eventually lost out to Leeds midfielder Lewis Cook for the prize but his reputation has continued to climb at Craven Cottage.

Tottenham do retain an interest in one long-time striker target, as they continue to eye West Brom's Sadio Berahino.

A Spurs source has told Football Insider that the club are willing to pay around £22million to land the forward in the summer as they target a proven Premier League front man to complement Harry Kane.

The north Londoners have long coveted a deal for Berahino, who is out of contract next year, but a frosty relationship between chairman Daniel Levy and his West Brom counterpart Jeremy Peace scuppered hopes of an agreement last summer and again in January.

There has also been strong interest in the versatile young forward from Newcastle and Stoke, with both clubs closely pursuing him in January and the Magpies tabling a £24million bid.

Berahino has also made it clear that his heart is set on a move to White Hart Lane to reduce the options of Peace and West Brom.

In other Tottenham transfer news, the club are confident of keeping hold of Jan Vertonghen and tying him down to a new deal.

Fulham

Tottenham Hotspur

Moussa Dembele