TOTTENHAM’S transfer stand-off with Blackburn over Ashley Phillips must be settled this week.
Rovers have until the start of the season to find a buyer for the England youth centre-half, 18, and are holding out for a £9.45million deal — as we revealed last week.
GettyAshley Phillips’s future could be set in stone by Friday[/caption]
Spurs are waiting to see if Blackburn find another buyer but the cut-off is FRIDAY when a £2m escape clause in Phillips’ contract kicks in.
If there is an offer during this ‘marketing period’ then Spurs need to match it to get the defender.
If not they can get him for the lower sum.
Prem rivals including Newcastle have shown interest but there is no offer yet above what Spurs want to pay.
Phillips is training with Blackburn ahead of Saturday’s opener against West Brom.
But is unlikely to be risked in games in case of injury.
The £2m cash will make a difference to boss Jon Dahl Tomasson’s budget but the club is hoping for far more.
Rovers want a guaranteed £5m with a chunk paid immediately and the rest settled in the next two years.
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Blackburn then want £150,000 when Phillips starts at his new club and TEN bonuses in all after a set number of appearances, up to 80 games.
So, if Phillips becomes a regular for Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou his fee rises to £6.5millon.
On top of that Phillips would cost a further £250k in the first two seasons he starts more than half of Spurs’ Premier League games — plus a further £250k for two seasons if the club qualifies for Europe and he plays in 50 per cent of the matches.
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