Did Tottenham overpay for Vincent Janssen? AZ insist £17m deal was good for everyone
Spurs paid £17m for the Dutchman, who has scored just once for the club so far.
AZ Alkmaar insist they did not overcharge Tottenham Hotspur for striker Vincent Janssen. Janssen finished as the Eredivisie's top scorer last season with 27 goals in 34 appearances, earning a move to White Hart Lane for a reported fee of £17m (€18.8m). The Netherlands international is still to rediscover that form, however, having scored just once this season, in an EFL Cup tie against Gillingham.
While Mauricio Pochettino has called for patience with his new striker, the Argentine opted to pick the in-form Son Heung-min ahead of Janssen in the 2-0 victory over Manchester City prior to the international break.
Janssen remains Netherlands' first choice upfront however, scoring in a World Cup qualifier against Belarus during the international break. AZ's director of football Max Huiberts believes the striker will soon live up to his price tag.
He told AZ Spreekt: "It was said that it was ridiculous that we asked more than £10m for Vincent because he plays for AZ.
"But then I think why? He is the top scorer in the Netherlands and the no. 1 striker of Oranje. I am sure that he will adapt quickly to the level of the Premier League."
According to Dutch daily De Telegraaf, Tottenham failed with three offers for Janssen before finally getting their man, as AZ stood strong over the valuation of the player.
While he was pleased to adequately fill AZ's coffers, Huiberts insists everyone walked away from the deal satisfied. "Afterwards I thought: 'wow, nice, we have done well.' I was relieved that it was completed.
"The buyers, Vincent Janssen, and I were very satisfied. But I also understand the fans who think we have lost a very good player. That just happens. We have to deal with that in the Dutch league."
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.