Tottenham Transfer News: Spurs enter race for Arsenal-linked £100k-p/w star

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to rival Arsenal for one of Europe’s top talents.

Spurs can be expected to be busy in the new year as they look to vastly improve on a disappointing start to the campaign, which has the Lilywhites in mid-table ahead of their trip to Crystal Palace.

Indeed, reports have already claimed that £150m has been set aside for Thomas Frank to bolster his squad once the window opens.

And it looks as though the north Londoners have set their sights on some ambitious targets, though their rivals from the capital could beat them to the punch despite receiving a potential boost as a wonderkid’s future on the continent enters a period of uncertainty.

According to Tutto Juve, Kenan Yildiz and Juventus are locked in a contract stalemate that has alerted the ‘immediate attention’ of Spurs, along with local rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.

The Gunners’ interest in the Turkey international has long been stated, while Liverpool were also linked earlier this year.

It has been suggested that Yildiz’s wages are the sticking point, with the 20-year-old thought to be after over £5m a season, which would work out at around £100,000 a week.

With Spurs recently reported as willing to make Manchester City-bound Antoine Semenyo their highest-paid player, it would not be a surprise if they were able to satisfy Yildiz’s demands.

Whether the 26-cap international would be happy to make a move to N17 is another matter, particularly with the other interested parties having more successful seasons and being on greater trajectories at present.

It is not clear whether this is an issue that will be resolved in January, though Juventus should not be under immediate pressure to sell, given Yildiz’s contract doesn’t expire until 2029.

Indeed, Tutto Juve makes clear the club’s desire to retain the winger’s services.

But another factor which could speed up a sale is the Bianconeri’s need to balance their books, as Juventus are currently operating under tight financial constraints, and whilst unable to offer Yildiz a satisfactory salary, selling sooner rather than later may suddenly become palatable.

With no Serie A title in five years, it is no shock that Juventus would apparently see a Yildiz exit as a huge backwards step.

However, his importance to the team – Yildiz top-scored for Juve at the Club World Cup and currently leads their Serie A scoring charts – means he would surely cost Spurs a pretty penny or two.

Graduated in Sport Journalism (BA) with first-class honours from the University of Brighton and has since had bylines in The Times, sports business publication SportsPro, Football FanCast and The Gooner fanzine.