Transfers of Wednesday, 17 April 2013

Source: Daily Mirror (UK)

Atsu on Spurs' radar

Andre Villas-Boas has reignited his interest in Porto winger Christian Atsu. Everton and Sunderland are also keen on the 20-year-old winger who will have just a year left on his contract by the summer.
But Spurs boss Villas-Boas could have the edge as he gave talented Atsu - who has an £8million buyout clause - his debut during his time in charge of Porto.
With just 12 months left on his contract and the player refusing to sign a new deal, Porto have resigned themselves to trying to recoup a fee for Atsu this summer.
They are fearful of seeing the wideman run down his contract and leave for a minimal fee after next year's World Cup.
AVB has found himself without a fall-back option this season whenever Tottenham have been robbed through injury of the pace of Aaron Lennon or Gareth Bale.
The loss of both players was most costly in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final which saw Spurs crash out on penalties.
Atsu, a Ghanian international with 13 caps, has gone on to establish himself as one of the brightest talents in Portuguese football.
Villas-Boas was keen last summer but Porto wanted around £12million for the player.
Porto now want Atsu to sign a new deal but the winger would prefer to play in the Premier League for AVB.
The Spurs boss has been fortunate over the last 12 months to have had both Lewis Holtby and Jan Vertonghen reject offers from other clubs solely because they too have been keen to play at White Hart Lane.
Atsu's representatives rejected terms on a new deal earlier in the season and have done so again with Porto keen to increase his buyout clause to £30million to ward off rivals.