Norwich boss sends warning to Tottenham over £20m defensive target

Norwich boss Daniel Farke insists they would be stupid to cash in on Max Aarons next month despite their fading survival hopes.

The Canaries are determined to hold onto the England Under-21 right-back in January.

Saturday’s visitors Tottenham have been linked to the defender while Crystal Palace have considered a bid in the past.

Norwich are bottom of the Premier League, seven points from safety, after Boxing Day’s 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa but Farke is adamant Aarons will stay beyond January.

He said: “Our financial position is quite relaxed and we know we need all our key players to have a small chance to create a big sensation so we’re not tempted at all to do something stupid and sell our best players.

“In this business you never know so sometimes there’s an unbelievable offer and the club decides to do something but in such a comfortable situation I don’t expect any.”

Defender Aarons has impressed this term, despite Norwich’s struggles, and the Canaries will demand over £20million should they sell, which is likely to happen if they are relegated.

“Yes, he’s alright,” said Farke. “I don’t like to praise the young players too much, everyone knows how good they are so it’s not like I can protect them.

“After a handful of Premier League games it’s not like you win the Golden Boot or Ballon d’Or. You have to keep going and improve.”

Meanwhile, Tottenham head coach Jose Mourinho has attempted to diffuse talk of a brewing row with Tanguy Ndombele – and says he hopes the midfielder will declare himself fit to play at Norwich on Saturday.

Mourinho revealed that the club’s record buy, who has recently recovered from a groin injury, asked not to be selected for the Boxing Day win over Brighton as he was worried about his previous fitness issues.

 

He trained on Thursday afternoon and Mourinho – facing a midfield shortage – hopes that the Frenchman will be up for the fight, especially after the fiery Portuguese’s pointed comments about the issue after win over the Seagulls.

Spurs will be without suspended midfield duo Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko, while Son Heung-min is also banned and Dele Alli looked to be carrying a knock in the latter stages of the Seagulls match.

Asked whether Mourinho was disappointed by Ndombele’s decision on Boxing Day, he replied: “I think Ndombele was honest. Football players like to play football.” Read more…