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Tottenham are using Davy Klaassen to force Everton’s hand

By Rucker Haringey

HULL, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks on prior to the Premier League match between Hull City and Tottenham Hotspur at the KC Stadium on May 21, 2017 in Hull, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
HULL, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Mauricio Pochettino, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks on prior to the Premier League match between Hull City and Tottenham Hotspur at the KC Stadium on May 21, 2017 in Hull, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham are exerting pressure on the Toffees

Sources all over Europe claim that Tottenham and Everton are battling it out for the services of Ajax attacker Davy Klaassen. Spurs aren’t genuinely interested in acquiring the Dutch midfielder though. They’re just using him as a pawn to bring Everton to the negotiating table in regards to Ross Barkley.

BBC Sport claim the Toffees are working hard to sign the Ajax captain sooner, rather than later. It just so happens that Klaassen occupies the same position as current Everton star Ross Barkley. The talented Englishman’s career at Merseyside is in serious jeopardy. Tottenham are the club most commonly linked with the talented midfielder.

It’s not hard to see what Daniel Levy is doing here. He understands that the more Everton are forced to pay for Klaassen, the more they will feel the need to sell Barkley in order to balance the books. It’s true that club ownership has given Koeman a much-needed infusion of transfer cash, but it’s not a blank cheque.

Spurs can use their positive relationship with Ajax to drive Klaassen’s price up considerably. Remember, Levy has recently purchased both Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen from the Eredivisie power. It may be one of the few clubs in Europe where Levy’s relationship with ownership could prove to be an asset for Tottenham.

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Klaassen is a nice talent, but he doesn’t fit the Tottenham mold. Pochettino prefers to buy younger players with higher upside. Klaassen is already 24-years-old. That certainly doesn’t make him a rickety veteran, but he would already be one of the older members of the club’s senior squad. Given the fact that he doesn’t appear to be a transcendent talent, it’s safe to assume that Pochettino isn’t making a massive push to sig him.

That leaves the pursuit of Barkley as the only logical reason to remain in the Klaassen race. Somewhat surprisingly, there don’t seem to be a ton of other clubs interested in acquiring the Ajax captain. That means Tottenham have to remain in the picture to make Everton at least pay the market rate.

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The subtle pressure of the Klaassen race combined with the passage of time may be enough to bring Koeman and company to the negotiating table. Ross Barkley may not be a popular signing among Spurs fans, but he’s clearly someone the club rate highly. Don’t be surprised to see rumours of Tottenham’s interest in him start to pop up again soon.

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