Burnely will demand a “substantial” fee for Tottenham Hotspur target Maxime Esteve this summer, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what his sources have said about Tottenham‘s attempts to sign the Clarets defender.
Esteve won Burnley’s Player of the Year award last season as they won promotion to the Premier League with 100 points and 30 clean sheets to boot, and his form at the back has attracted plenty of interest.
Tottenham are in talks for a deal to sign Esteve amid the uncertainty over Cristian Romero’s future, but sources have told Football Insider that Burnley are demanding at least £50million for the 23-year-old.
Thomas Frank‘s side are unlikely to offer a fee close to that asking price, and Football Insider sources have said that with Esteve under contract until 2029, Burnley hold all the cards at the negotiating table.
Both Everton and Crystal Palace are also interested in Esteve and could spark a bidding war with Spurs, but sources have told Football Insider that Burnley sanctioning his sale would be a “massive surprise”.
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Tottenham told to look elsewhere amid Burnley’s Esteve stance
Football Insider revealed back in April that Esteve was Everton’s number one choice to replace Jarrad Branthwaite if he left the club this summer, but the latter’s new contract has opened the door for Spurs.
Speaking on the new Inside Track, O’Rourke said that Tottenham’s interest in Esteve is understandable given his form, but Scott Parker will be in no mood to let the centre-back leave Burnley this summer.
“He’s a good player, Esteve – I’m not surprised the clubs are looking at him.
“Everton showed a lot of interest in him as well, now Tottenham are being mentioned as contenders for a signature if he leaves Burnley this summer.
“Spurs did try to sign him in the January window when he was doing so well; Burnley don’t want to lose Esteve, and they’ve put a £50million price tag on his head.
“I don’t think Spurs would go near that level to try and sign Esteve, but Burnley are in a really strong position to negotiate here.
“He’s under contract until 2029 and they can demand a substantial fee because of his contract – that price tag will probably scare off most clubs.
“I would be massively surprised if Burnley were to cash in on him in this window, unless it’s an offer that’s too good to turn down.”
Tottenham step up transfer pursuits after Kudus breakthrough
The firing and hiring of Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank respectively had dominated the discourse around Spurs this summer, with recruitment taking a back seat towards the end of Tottenham’s season.
However, the arrivals of Kota Takai and Mohammed Kudus have finally opened the floodgates, and Tottenham’s approach for Morgan Gibbs-White has led to potential legal action from Nottingham Forest.
It’s unclear where Spurs turn next in their bid to give Frank the Champions League-level squad he needs, but shelling out £50m on a defender who excelled in the Championship would be ambitious to say the leasrt.