Tottenham hoping to free up transfer funds by selling Vincent Janssen to Real Betis

It would be an understatement to say that Vincent Janssen’s time at Tottenham Hotspur has not gone according to plan.

The Dutch striker joined the club from AZ Alkmaar in July of 2016 for a fee reported to be around £17 million. Janssen struggled heavily, only managing two goals in 28 appearances for Spurs. He is now no longer in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans after spending last season on loan and playing this season solely for the U23s.

Tottenham have been trying to sell him for a while, and they now may be close to achieving that aim as the January transfer window nears its closing. According to a report from the Evening Standard, Janssen’s representatives were scheduled to meet with Real Betis on Tuesday about a possible transfer.

Janssen’s representatives were due to meet the Spanish club today to discuss a move for the Netherlands international, who has been told he is not part of Tottenham’s plans.

Janssen spent last season on loan at Turkish club Fenerbahce and Spurs would prefer to sell him permanently this month, with the London club likely to insist on including an obligation to buy in any loan deal with Betis.

The forward’s representatives have been frustrated by Spurs’ £12million asking price, with agent Patrick van Diemen telling Dutch media this week: “Clubs do come forward, but it doesn’t actually become concrete. The most important thing now is that Janssen will play again.”

Real Betis are currently eighth in La Liga. They could represent a solid opportunity for Janssen to get his career back on track.

£12 million in transfer funds isn’t a lot, but at least it’s something. The Standard article also claims that Spurs want to use those funds to buy Carlos Soler from Valencia.

Spurs remain interested in making a signing before the transfer deadline and they have scouted Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler, with the 22-year-old Spaniard seen as a possible long-term replacement for Mousa Dembele. Tottenham have so far not made a move for PSG’s Adrien Rabiot this month, despite previous interest in the Frenchman and the Ligue 1 club’s desire to sell him before the end of his contract in the summer.

Soler’s name hasn’t been brought up as much this January as Rabiot’s has. Still, both seem like long shots.

Soler had success for Valencia in the Champions League group stage, but he hasn’t performed as well in La Liga.

The most likely addition for Tottenham may now be Monaco’s Youri Tielemans. On Tuesday, a few different reports said that Spurs are now pursuing Tielemans as he has been slightly ostracized from a Monaco squad that is 19th in Ligue 1. His numbers are better than Soler’s, despite having a worse team around him.

Even if Tottenham don’t sign a new midfielder, it would be helpful to finally get Janssen off the books. It’s best for all parties if they move on from his spell at Spurs as quickly as possible.