Wolfsburg are giving Tottenham’s Daniel Levy a taste of his own medicine in his pursuit of Micky van de Ven by sticking to their €50m demands for the player.
That’s according to Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung, who say the German club have set a ‘hard and inflexible line’ in negotiations for the player.
Reports over the last couple of days have indicated that Tottenham are closing in on a deal for Van de Ven, who is one of several targets to bolster their defence this summer.
Those reports have stated that Spurs are ready to pay up for the Dutchman and he could be signed soon, but WAZ pull that back with their information today.
They admit that while Tottenham have been trying to lure the defender to England for weeks, they are yet to match Wolfsburg’s demands for him.
Their initial bid for Van de Ven is worth €30m, which is €10m lower than has been reported elsewhere, but Wolfsburg’s managing sporting director ‘does not intend’ to accept that.
He’s instead made it clear that it will be €50m or nothing if Tottenham wish to sign the player this summer and has put a ‘hard and inflexible line’ in front of that valuation.
He’s got experience of driving a hard bargain, and indeed already did so this summer with the sale of Lukas Nmecha to Borussia Dortmund. He got his way in that deal and intends to do the same with Tottenham and Van de Ven, boosted by the fact that the player has a contract until 2027.
He’s made it clear to Spurs that he is only willing to give up his player if the €50m asking price is met. It is now up to Levy to decide whether he will do so and a ‘decision will be made shortly’ on the matter.
He’s presumably working hard how to swallow the bitter pill as someone else shows the tough negotiating tactics he’s become infamous for himself.
