Tottenham Hotspur has made a late bid for Burnley’s promising defender Maxime Esteve, but it appears the Championship club is not willing to let the player go without meeting their financial demands.
Reported by French sports daily L’Equipe, the initial offer from Spurs reaches £20 million, which they hope would be enough to secure Esteve’s transfer before the transfer window closes. Burnley, the team currently competing for promotion, has firmly rejected this bid, stating they want £30 million if they are to part with their 22-year-old defensive standout.
With the Premier League season heating up, Tottenham is racing against time to reinforce their squad. The north London team has faced significant defensive challenges this season due to injuries to key players such as Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero. These injury woes have prompted Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to explore multiple defensive options, with Esteve being one of the most attractive possibilities.
Esteve has shown great promise since joining Burnley from Montpellier. He made his switch permanent last summer following a successful loan spell and quickly established himself as a central figure on the pitch. The French defender has appeared in all 30 league games this season, contributing to Burnley’s impressive defensive record, which includes only nine goals conceded.
One notable aspect of Esteve’s performance is his ball-playing ability, which aligns well with Tottenham's current tactical philosophy under manager Ange Postecoglou. The young defender has already garnered attention for his composure on the ball and passing accuracy, attributes highly valued by Postecoglou as Spurs aim to play out from the back.
Despite Tottenham’s initial optimism, reports suggest they must raise their current offer significantly to entice Burnley to engage seriously. With time running out on transfer deadline day, Spurs face pressure to act quickly. They have also been linked to other defenders, including Chelsea's Axel Disasi and Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi, indicating they are widely exploring options.
Burnley’s stance reflects their desire to keep hold of Esteve, recognizing him as integral to their push for promotion to the Premier League. Club officials are wary of losing key players at this stage of the season, which could undermine their campaign. Esteve’s performance has been pivotal; he’s not only contributed defensively but also provides leadership on the field.
After Burnley made it clear they would not accept Tottenham’s offer, it’s uncertain whether Spurs will return with improved terms. The transfer market is fraught with urgency as clubs scramble to finalize deals before the window closes, and Tottenham's current league position could prompt them to take greater risks.
Overall, the situation surrounding Maxime Esteve exemplifies the drama of the January transfer window. Clubs must balance the urgency of immediate needs with long-term ambitions, and with approximately only hours left until the deadline, the coming days will be pivotal for both Tottenham and Burnley.
Whether Tottenham can find common ground with Burnley or pivot to other targets remains to be seen. The race against the clock is relentless, and as Spurs look to solidify their backline, every minute counts.