Spurs Cash in on Andros Townsend
Spurs’ Andros Townsend is Newcastle-bound and will have his wages tripled upon completing the move.
A £14 million valuation on a 24-year-old winger who had been frozen out of Spurs’ first-team this entire season ultimately got his preferred transfer move to Newcastle United. In the end though, was it actually a bad move now that Daniel Levy got a hefty fee in return?
As much as Levy remained steadfast in wanting the full value that Andros Townsend wasn’t exactly worth, and while it took some intervention from Mauricio Pochettino to lower the amount that Spurs should get in return — just £2 million lower — both clubs and the player have to be happy with this transaction.
RELATED: Newcastle to Sign Townsend from Spurs
Spurs’ chairman knew one thing, or at least knew, that in England teams overvalue players a lot. So why not take advantage of that mindset?
And that is exactly what Newcastle did by signing Andros Townsend for £12 million and tripling his wages that will rise up to £55,000-a-week according to the Mirror. The Magpies found a player that they needed and didn’t want to miss out on a chance to bolster their squad. So ultimately, they paid more than Townsend is actually worth.
Moves like this could be reflected by Manchester United for example, and how they wanted to sign Harry Kane and ended up making Anthony Martial the most expensive teenager in football history.
Kane was coming off a superb first season with Spurs and yet Man United were ready to pay upwards of £50 million for a striker who — while very good and scored 31 goals in all competitions — just completed one year. Or rather seven months as a starter since November 2014.
For Martial, the Frenchman completed two seasons with Monaco and compiled 70 appearances, 15 goals and six assists. Good numbers for a then-19-year-old who was quickly becoming a rising star. And while he has continued to blossom with the Red Devils, a £36 million transfer fee (that could potentially increase to £57.6 million based on bonuses) represented a club who overvalued Anthony Martial more than Monaco did.
How could the French club say no to nearly £60 million for a 19-year-old, even if he was one of their up-and-coming players?
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Now, while Newcastle is no Manchester United in terms of financial power, they saw a player that they wanted and ended up paying more to secure another signing to improve their squad.
Other clubs were interested in Townsend’s services so the Magpies had to act fast, and knowing how Daniel Levy always wants more than he bargained for. There’s no telling that had the English winger remained on the squad until the summer window opened, that his value would increase even more.
Essentially though, when it was all said and done, Spurs have once again come out with a good return after selling Andros Townsend for £12 million. This money can now help bolster the club before the transfer deadline closes. Or they could add more if Federico Fazio is sold as well, with Levy holding out for nearly £8 million from Fazio’s release clause. That would return £20 million to Spurs on just two sales alone.
Next: Fulham Nixes Totenham's Pursuit of Striker
Daniel Levy is a shrewd negotiator but has lately gotten the best out of his counterparts and it has continued once again this winter. Who Spurs use this newly acquired funds on before the January transfer deadline remains to be seen.
They could sign a few lower league players or one very good and promising player who is ready, to step into Mauricio Pochettino’s first team now. If they pocket the money instead, then the summer window will see some more additions to the club regardless.