Blackburn Rovers manager Jon Dahl Tomasson insists that there is currently ‘not an agreement’ regarding a deal that would take teenage defender Ashley Phillips to Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur.
It’s never simple is it, Spurs fans?
New Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is finding that out the hard way, his short-lived tenure taking in more drama than the final season of Succession. Amid the backdrop of ongoing fury towards Daniel Levy, the whole Joe Lewis situation, and the relentless speculation over Harry Kane’s future, what The Sun describes as a ‘transfer stand-off’ with Blackburn Rovers regarding young Ashley Phillips is merely a drop in the proverbial ocean.
Still, this is a saga Spurs could have done without.
Tottenham struggling to reach Blackburn deal for Ashley Phillips
Tottenham, according to The Athletic, were confident of getting a deal done for an initial £3 million earlier in July. That was before Blackburn suddenly upped their demands, holding out for £9.5 million as the Championship look to ease their financial concerns.
Blackburn boss Jon Dahl Tomasson believes it is still more likely than not that Phillips will depart before the September deadline. As things stand, however, there is no ‘agreement’ in place. Much to Tottenham’s frustration.
“The chances are big that the boy will probably be going to a good side,” Tomasson told Lancs Live of the England U19 international. “He is a great player. He will have a great future.
“But there is not an agreement at the moment.”
6ft 4ins Phillips made eight Championship appearances last term. He would likely be viewed as one for the future at Spurs, though Tottenham are also running headfirst into brick walls in their pursuit of a new first-team centre-half as well.
Talks with Wolfsburg’s Micky Van de Ven have stalled. Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, remain determined to hang onto Edmond Tapsoba.
“(We will not sell Tapsoba) under normal circumstances,” Leverkusen director Simon Rolfes tells BILD. “With his quality, I would be surprised if there is no interest. There are always limits somewhere. But Eddy is a very important player. Without a doubt one of the top players in our team.”
“Eddy still has a long contract. And therefore there is no reason for us to think about (selling him) at all. That’s not an issue.”
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