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Tottenham Hotspur may have a use for Vincent Janssen in Ajax transfer pursuits

Mathew Nash

Wed 17 October 2018 20:15, UK

Tottenham Hotspur are said to be interested in Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong. The Ajax star has been linked with Spurs for a number of weeks now. Last month, suggested that Ajax want £67 million for the player, with Catalan giants Barcelona also keen. There is a similar situation happening at Ajax with Spurs and Barca also both keen on centre-back Matthijs De Ligt.

The same report suggests that Tottenham want to sign the 21-year-old for just £44 million, still a vast sum for a young player who has never played outside Holland.

But do Tottenham have a way of bridging the gap for a player being tipped as their potential Mousa Dembele replacement?

It involved club outcast, Vincent Janssen. Tottenham paid £18.6 million for the Dutch striker in 2016. It came after a free-scoring season with AZ Alkmaar.

However, the Dutch international struggled in English football and after one season was loaned out to Fenerbahce. He has since had problems with a foot injury and is currently still at Spurs, but not registered in their Premier League or Champions League squads.

When Tottenham signed the player, Ajax were also being linked with his services. However, there was no chance they could afford his transfer fee.

“PSV and Ajax were never going to pay €20million. AZ made a move to one of those clubs impossible.”

With Ajax’s experienced Klaas Jan Huntelaar entering the twilight of his career, a new recruit up front would be welcomed by the Dutch giants next summer.

Janssen, despite his troubles, is still only 24-years-old and scored 27 Eredivisie goals in his last season in Holland.

Offering him up as a sweetener could surely give Tottenham the edge in any chase for De Jong, or indeed De Ligt, next summer.