Tottenham set to sign half-price Diarra from Real Madrid
Published:Tottenham have agreed a fee to sign Lassana Diarra, but the transfer is currently being held up by Real Madrid’s demands to insert some future add-ons into the deal.
Jose Mourinho values the French midfielder at around €20m, but according to Spanish newspaper Marca, Tottenham can only afford €11.5m.
With Real Madrid desperate to sell because of the vast number of midfield options in their ranks, they have agreed to Tottenham’s maximum bid, but are determined to add extras into the package to bump up the value long term.
These extras include gaining a percentage of any future Tottenham sale of Diarra or a bonus payment if any cup success is achieved during his time at the club.
Failing to agree to Real Madrid’s stipulations could have further repercussions for Tottenham, as it could hinder their chances of signing Emmanuel Adebayor on loan from Manchester City.
Spurs have been linked with a loan move for the Togo striker for much of the summer, but his £170,000 a week wages have proved a major stumbling block.
Harry Redknapp was initially only prepared to pay a small percentage of this figure, but has now reportedly agreed to increase this percentage.
But it is believed that Adebayor wants proof of Tottenham’s ambition before making a final decision if he wants to return to London and the signing of Diarra would satisfy his concerns.
After their 3-0 defeat to Manchester United in their first Premier League outing of the season, Tottenham’s need for a striker looked apparent, while a raft of injuries have left them short of options in midfield.
Reinforcements would certainly be welcomed at Spurs if they are to enhance their chances of breaking back into the top four this season, which is priced at 5/2 in the Premier League odds.
