Danny Ings isn’t the only Tottenham-linked striker whose contract situation has caused a stir today, there’s Robin Quaison too.
While Southampton’s number nine turned down a chance to become the best-paid player in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad, according to The Athletic, the Saints can at least demand a sizeable sum for a player at his peak, even if Ings’ market value will diminish with every week that goes by.
Mainz, in contrast, won’t even have a wad of cold, hard cash to keep them warm at night as the Bundesliga outfit prepares for life without the most prolific goalscorer in its top-flight history.
Just two months ago, Quaison scored a famous winner against none other than Bayern Munich as Bo Svensson’s side hauled themselves out of the relegation zone, securing their safety despite spending much of last season flanking Schalke in the Bundesliga’s bottom two.
But while the Sweden international will forever have a place in the heart of most Mainz supporters, the sudden nature of his departure may leave a sour taste for others.
Tottenham may look to sign Quaison for free
“I think there is going to be a change in his head, which is completely legitimate after the contract expires, but then we don’t want a player like that here either,” Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel explains to Kicker.
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“We can’t extend every contract. That’s why there was a decision to let Robin go now,” he adds, in quotes reported by Bild.
Quaison was linked with a £14 million move to Tottenham via the Daily Mail last summer.
And while the 27-year-old would fail to capture the imagination quite like a proven Premier League goalscorer a la Ings, the availability of a talented free agent would certainly appeal to Daniel Levy.
Spurs’ chairman is having to juggle the pandemic with debts incurred on the back of building the club’s space-age stadium.
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