Tom Carroll set for Swansea medical, but for half of Spurs’ asking price

Tom Carroll is not long for Tottenham Hotspur, but it sounds like there’s been some (_ahem_) wheeling and dealing going on over the past 24 hours. Sky and TalkSport journalist Jim White is now reporting that English Xavi is on his way to Wales for a medical, but for a much lower transfer fee than what was previously reported.

If you were to tell me, before all the previous reports had come out, that Tom Carroll would be sold this January for £4.5m, I’d say that probably felt about right. (Actually, fully embracing the bit, I’d tell you to go f**k yourself because Tom Carroll is better than Messi, but that’s neither here nor there at this point.) £4.5m isn’t a terrible price at all for a homegrown English midfielder who is now 25 and is, at best, fifth best at his position at a Top Four club.

However, considering yesterday’s reports that said he was set to go to Wales for £8m (or, to put it another way, 160% of what we paid for Dele), I can’t help but feel a little disappointed in the fee. Obviously we’re not privy to the details, but for Daniel Levy to take that big of a hit on the initial transfer fee probably implies that there are some serious performance related escalators in that contract.

Either way, start prepping the Tom Carroll shrine, because his departure from Tottenham Hotspur is imminent.