AZ Alkmaar director of football comments on selling Vincent Janssen to Tottenham, defends fee

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Spurs paid around £17 million for the Netherlands international this summer.

AZ Alkmaar director of football Max Huiberts has told AZ Speaks, as quoted by Voetbal Primeur, that his club were right to demand £17 million from Tottenham Hotspur for Vincent Janssen and insists he will adapt to the Premier League.

Spurs paid big money to bring the 22-year-old striker to White Hart Lane this summer after Janssen scored 31 goals in 49 appearances in his only season for AZ.

Since his arrival in England, however, the Dutchman has struggled to adapt to the pace and physicality of the Premier League.

The forward, leading the line for Spurs with Harry Kane out injured, has scored just once in his first 10 appearances for the club, with that goal coming in the 5-0 EFL Cup win over League Two Gillingham in September.

However, Huiberts has insisted that his club’s former star will come good for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, although he did admit that he felt AZ did well to prise such a high figure from Spurs.

Huiberts told AZ Speaks, via Voetbal Primeur: “Afterwards I thought: ‘wow, nice, we have done well’. Yeah, I was relieved that it was completed well. The buyers, Vincent Janssen, and we were very satisfied.

“But I also understand the fans who think we have lost a very good player. That just happens, that we have to deal with in the Dutch league.

“It was said that it was ridiculous that we asked more than 10 million for Vincent because he plays for AZ. But then I think why? He is the top scorer of the Netherlands and the number one striker of Orange. Vincent was the top of the Eredivisie already, I am sure that he will adapt quickly to the level of the Premier League.”

Huiberts seems sure that Janssen will pay back the money Spurs invested in him, and the star’s stunning goal for the Netherlands over the international break showcased the talent he has.

Spurs fans took encouragement from that strike, but they will be desperate to see Janssen replicate that prowess in front of goal in the Premier League sooner rather than later.