Instalments, as well as fee, playing part in Soldado to Spurs delay

Tottenham have already hit a brick wall once this summer by failing to meet the asking price of one centre forward target and lightning seems to be striking twice in the chase of Valencia’s Roberto Soldado.

Aston Villa were clear that Christian Benteke would not be departing for less than £25m and this price wasn’t lowered even after the Belgian handed in a transfer request.

In the end the two clubs failed to reach an agreement and Benteke has since done a U-turn to sign a new contract at Villa Park.

This led Spurs to increase their interest in Soldado, but to date they have failed to meet the Spaniard’s £26m release clause, offering only £22m plus add-ons.

However, meeting the asking price may prove only half of the problem for Tottenham as issues could also arise over the number of instalments that the final sum is paid in.

The rumours are that Spurs want to pay in five instalments and it is additionally speculated that the desire to pay in smaller sums is what has impacted past transfers being completed, such as Joao Moutinho and Leandro Damiao.

Striking targets are getting a bit thin on the ground now and although this figure is on the high side for a 28-year-old, it may be worth Daniel Levy breaking from his usual transfer philosophy for this one instance.

Soldado has scored more than 15 goals in each of the last four seasons and this could help Spurs take the next step given that current leading striker Jermain Defoe has not netted more than 11 in any of the last three campaigns.

In fact, Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor managed just 16 between them last season, with only four teams seeing a lower percentage of their overall goals converted by starting strikers.

Meanwhile, Soldado was enjoying his most profitable with 24 goals and compared with Spurs’ current pair, his shot accuracy was better, his conversion rate greater and somehow he was responsible for a higher number of assists.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.