Tottenham may miss out on Real Madrid star due to wages
Mateo Kovacic would be perfect for Tottenham
Tottenham fans are desperate for a big name purchase and Mateo Kovacic would be perfect. Unfortunately, the Real Madrid star may be too expensive. Surprisingly, it’s not his transfer fee that would cause Daniel Levy problems.
Instead, there are strong indications that Kovacic’s wage demands may scupper any potential move to North London. Levy and company have a notoriously tight wage structure. Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that a Real Madrid star would be earning significantly more than that structure would allow.
This might represent the first real example of Levy holding Tottenham back due to his frugal fiscal policies. Spurs have a unique opportunity to transform themselves into Premier League title winners this summer. All manager Mauricio Pochettino needs is moderate investment from the club’s ownership.
That doesn’t necessarily mean spending a fortune on transfer fees. What it does mean, is spending the money on salaries required to keep pace with their Premier League rivals. Tottenham are the tenth most valuable club in Europe, but it’s safe to say their wage levels are well below that standing.
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It’s true that signing a player like Kovacic and making him the club’s highest earner would create unrest within the squad. Other stars like Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Hugo Lloris would have every right to expect increased compensation too. The club really can’t avoid that fiscal reality forever. Levy is forcing Spurs to suffer from a competitive disadvantage at the moment. It just isn’t a policy that can last much longer.
If Tottenham can find a way to acquire Kovacic, Pochettino would finally have the attacking midfielder he’s been looking for since his arrival. The club hoped that Moussa Sissoko would serve that purpose, but it’s clear the Frenchman’s time in North London is winding down. It will shock everyone associated with the club if he isn’t sold this summer.
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Ultimately, if Kovacic is really available for a transfer fee of just over £22 million then it’s going to prove to be a real litmus test for Spurs. If they can’t find a way to bring in such a prodigious talent at a position of need at that price, it will be a significant disappointment. It might represent a massive missed opportunity by the club to acquire another world-class star.