NEWS FLASH: Spurs and Aston Villa in race to sign a ''magnificent''player from...

Journalist Graeme Bailey has suggested that Tottenham Hotspur might have found Ayemeric Laporte’s wages to be excessive, which could be why they have turned their attention to cheaper alternatives for the left centre-back role.

Heading into the transfer window, it was clear that Spurs were in desperate need of reinforcements to the left side of central defence

However, despite a lot of speculation linking the likes of Micky van de Ven and Edmond Tapsoba with a move to N17 (GiveMeSport), the Lilywhites do not appear any closer to strengthening the position.

Another name who has been mooted as a target for Spurs is Laporte, with 90 min claiming last month that Manchester City are willing to sell the Spain international, who was said to be on Ange Postecoglou’s wishlist.

Manchester City defender Laporte ruled out until September | Marca

Spurs and Villa were expected to move for Laporte

However, things seem to have gone quiet on the Laporte front over recent weeks and Bailey has now offered a reason why that could be the case.

The journalist said on Talking Transfers Podcast: “Laporte hasn’t found his move yet, there was the assumption that Villa or Spurs would really take him, they were really keen.

“But you go back to the idea of Premier League tax, he’s on such good wages, it’s so much more money than Pau Torres or Van de Ven and Tapsoba who Tottenham are looking at, I don’t know, is he another Saudi candidate?”

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Laporte is currently only on £120,000 per week at Manchester City, which both Spurs and Villa could easily afford within their current wage structures.

I suspect the two clubs have not moved for the centre-back because he made it clear that he only wants to join a Champions League club. It remains to be seen if the 29-year-old would reconsider a move to Tottenham later in the window, now that it appears no other top club have come in for him.