Around a month ago the media closest to Espanyol reported the club’s plan to use the money they expect from a Pau Lopez sale to buy Diego Lopez. The €7m from Tottenham would be sent to AC Milan for the older Lopez, it all worked out rather neatly.
Diego Lopez turns 36 years of age this year and his Milan contract only has a year left on it. The Spaniard has no real future at Milan and therefore it may be suspected Espanyol could get the player for less than the €7m they expect from Spurs for Pau.
Tottenham have already paid €600k as a loan fee and will have to pay a €500k penalty if the move doesn’t turn into a permanent transfer, therefore it’s in everyone’s interests for a deal to be done.
It was reported on Wednesday in Spain that Tottenham are trying to change the terms of the deal, pay less and have it structured relating to Pau’s future achievements.
Pau came through the youth system at Espanyol so all money received will be profit, there’s every chance Tottenham, on reflection, believe €7m plus the €600k already paid is a little too much profit. Especially considering that Espanyol decided Pau would be dropped as their number one in the summer, which is how he ended up at Tottenham.
Furthermore, Pau only has another year left on his Espanyol contract should he return, meaning the danger of losing him for absolutely nothing would appear on the horizon.
These are perfect bargaining angles for Tottenham and Daniel Levy, with the Spurs chief having a fearsome reputation in Spain for dragging Florentino Perez through the mill.
Of course, it’s a little ungentlemanly for Tottenham to be renegotiating a deal that was supposed to be agreed, but it’s not a huge surprise and they wouldn’t be the first club to do it.
