Tottenham want Max Meyer in £17.5million deal as they look to finally land the signature of Schalke and Germany U21 star
TOTTENHAM look set to make a £17.5million move for German Under-21 star Max Meyer.
Mauricio Pochettino was quoted a staggering £39m fee when he tried to sign the Schalke winger last summer.
But now Meyer, 21, is available for less than half that figure after refusing to sign a new contract with the German club.
Tottenham scouts were in Poland at the weekend to see Meyer score his team’s opener in their 2-0 win against the Czech Republic at the Euro Under-21 finals.
And Pochettino is keen to wrap up a deal for a player who fits perfectly into the club’s policy of signing promising young talent whose value will increase.
Meyer insists he is in no rush to quit Schalke despite having just a year to run on his current contract.
But he was stung by criticism last season from former coach Markus Weinzierl and has told the club he will not be signing a new deal.
Schalke are keen to cash in now rather than lose Meyer as a free agent next summer.
He warned: “I have not said I will leave Schalke, simply that I won’t extend my contract.
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“I know there was interest in me last summer but the club immediately put a stop to it so the matter was settled.
“There is still hope things will be better for me at the club. We will have to see what happens.”
Spurs are convinced a deal can be struck, especially after rivals Liverpool have now finally landed £34.3m Mo Salah.
Schalke refused to budge on their asking price last August, forcing Pochettino into a hurried deadline-day deal for £30m flop Moussa Sissoko.