GORDON BENNETT!
Spurs plotting to nick Toffees star for just £10m
EXCLUSIVE
@neil_moxley TOTTENHAM are looking to steal Anthony Gordon from Everton – for just £10million.
Spurs aim to follow-up their club-record swoop for Everton’s Brazil ace Richarlison by taking one of the Toffees’ brightest young talents as well.
And they are looking to do it by offsetting the fee they are still owed for Dele Alli.
Tottenham came to an unusual arrangement with the Merseysiders seven months ago when the former England international joined Everton’s relegation fight.
Alli (right) was allowed to leave Antonio Conte’s side on a ‘free’ transfer – but with a fee that would be dependent on appearances. In all, it would cost Everton £40m if Alli hit the heights with the Toffees and became a firstteam regular.
So far the 26-year-old has started only one game in the Premier League – Everton’s last of the season, at Arsenal – and that came after top-flight safety had already been secured.
That outing ended badly for the visitors – a
5-1 defeat – and, after arriving on a tide of hope, Alli had been used sparingly by Blues boss Frank Lampard, mainly coming off the bench.
Alli has done little to suggest he’s rediscovered the form that made him one of Europe’s hottest prospects during Mauricio Pochettino’s spell in charge of Spurs. But now Tottenham are willing to trade off some of Everton’s accrued debt over Alli – around £20m.
Such a deal could actually value Gordon at £30m, with a £10m cash top-up payment securing the 21-yearold’s signature.
The academy graduate was one of the few success stories in an otherwise miserable campaign for Everton and he became a cult hero by scoring the winner in April’s 1-0 victory at Goodison over Manchester United.
He bagged four goals in total during his debut season, after Rafa Benitez gave him an extended run.
Gordon caught the eye of his north London suitors when chasing a lost cause while his side were taught a five-goal lesson at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in March.
It was his desire to scrap for his team that marked him down as one to watch, and Spurs big-wig Daniel Levy is known to be an admirer of the youngster.
Gordon’s potential capture will be another boost to an exciting close-season for Tottenham who have significantly added to the squad that finished fourth last term.
Keeper Fraser Forster and winger Ivan Perisic arrived on frees from Southampton and Inter Milan respectively. And Yves Bissouma’s move from Brighton preceded Richarlison’s transfer.