Tottenham step up with £20m-plus offer for deadly striker after first bid fails

Tottenham will go back in with an improved offer of more than £20m for Fenerbahce striker Vedat Muqiri after their first bid was rejected, according to reports.

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho is on the hunt for a new goalscorer this month, with Harry Kane ruled out until at least April with a torn hamstring.

Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale has been sensationally linked with a return to his former club in recent days, with one report suggesting that Spurs have set their range as they consider a bid.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani has also been mooted as a potential addition, with the Uruguayan “lacking rhythm and confidence” with less than six months remaining on his deal.

However, Tottenham have also been linked with Muriqi in the past and according to Turkish newspaper Aksam (via Sport Witness), the club are stepping up their chase for the 25-year-old.

The source claims that Spurs had an initial bid rejected earlier in the transfer window, with Fenerbahce insisting that the player was not for sale.

Tottenham then reportedly turned their attention to Cavani but are aware that he is likely to join Atletico Madrid.

Therefore, Mourinho’s side are reportedly set to increase their offer for Muriqi to over £20m, which could tempt Fenerbahce into selling given the club’s financial difficulties.

 

 

Fenerbahce have been unable to register their only signing this term amid ongoing issues with the Turkish Football Federation.

It is claimed that a higher offer may force Fenerbahce to sell up as they look to relieve some of their off-field problems.

Muriqi, who moved from Caykur Rizespor in the summer, has scored 12 goals and assisted five others in 19 appearances.

The Kosovo international netted in stoppage time against Gaziantep last weekend before being sent off.

In other Tottenham transfer news, Mourinho is reportedly keen on signing AC Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu as a replacement for Christian Eriksen.

Eriksen, who is out of contract in the summer, has been heavily linked with a move away with Inter Milan said to be interested in signing the Danish international.

According to Aksam, Calhanoglu is available for £17m and Tottenham are ready to pay the fee in full.

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