90min

Spurs Holding Firm on Serge Aurier Valuation as AC Milan Circle

By George Cannon

Aurier has been a divisive figure during his time in north London
Aurier has been a divisive figure during his time in north London / Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images
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Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is holding firm to his asking price for Serge Aurier, as AC Milan try to bring the right-back to San Siro.

Spurs paid £23m to prise Aurier away from Paris Saint-Germain back in 2017 and are keen to recoup that fee in full, with Levy unwilling to drop his asking price for a player in his prime years.

Despite this, the Daily Mail report that Milan are trying to negotiate a lower fee, with the Italians tabling offers of around £12m.

Aurier often provides an attacking threat but is also prone to making costly mistakes
Aurier often provides an attacking threat but is also prone to making costly mistakes / Pool/Getty Images

The Ivorian full-back has been a divisive figure during his three-year spell in north London, but established himself as the first-choice right-back at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season. The former Ligue 1 champion arguably had his most impressive campaign on English shores to date, producing two goals and eight assists in all competitions.

Levy, a notoriously tough negotiator, is not prepared to take a major financial hit, especially in the current climate. Spurs are working on a tight transfer budget after missing out on Champions League football, and the coronavirus pandemic hit their finances hard.

Vertonghen has already departed Spurs and Ndombele and Aurier have been tipped to join him
Vertonghen has already departed Spurs and Ndombele and Aurier have been tipped to join him / Alex Davidson/Getty Images

Long-serving centre-back Jan Vertonghen has already left the club at the end of his contract, and Aurier's theoretical understudy Kyle Walker-Peters is expected to depart in the near future, with Southampton leading the race for the youngster's signature.

However, the club has insisted that record signing Tanguy Ndombele is not for sale despite continuing links with Inter. The £55m man arrived from Lyon last summer and showed flashes of brilliance in his debut season, but failed to establish himself in the starting lineup under either Mauricio Pochettino or Mourinho – the later appearing not to trust the midfielder.