Destiny Udogie transfer value jumps at Tottenham as FFP avoidance dismissed amid last-gasp deal
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…
Destiny Udogie’s new long-term Tottenham contract wasn’t rushed through ahead of the change in legislation for FFP avoidance but to lock down an “excellent prospect” and protect his transfer value, says Paul Robinson.
The Italian signed a “bumper” contract extension to 2030 which includes a “significant pay rise” on 12 December [Evening Standard] after the 21-year-old emerged as a key man for Ange Postecolgou this term, with the news coming just hours before the Premier League voted to limit the amortisation of transfer fees to five years [Sky Sports].
But former England keeper Robinson is confident the move was a genuine reward for the young defender outperforming his previous deal rather than anything related to financial pressures.
He exclusively told Tottenham News: “Tottenham were obviously aware that the legislation was coming in and they got it through before the deadline.
“A lot of the clubs we’ve seen use six, seven, eight-year contracts have done as part of financial fair play avoidance, spreading payments over a number of years which doesn’t incriminate you in the short term.
“I don’t see that being a problem with Tottenham and Udogie’s contract. I think that’s probably more keeping a young player at the football club for a length of time. I don’t know but I suspect his wages are not up there with the highest earners in the team.
“So I don’t think FFP came into it with Tottenham. I think it was a genuine rewarding of a very, very good young player, and an excellent prospect that the club have got, who has already proved that they can play at the top level, and international level as well this season by the way.
“Just keeping him at the club and adding to his value further down the line, should anyone come looking.”
Having remained on loan for an extra season with Udinese before joining up with Tottenham along with Postecoglou this summer the Italy international has quickly established himself as vital in the line up.
His elevated status has come about so quickly that a new deal was probably inevitable before long in case another club came sniffing for a bargain and attempted to turn his head.
Any ability for the club to spread their spend on him over the extra years was likely a slight bonus reason to get it snuck in before the league vote, but not the primary motivation it has been at Chelsea in recent seasons.
After becoming so crucial in the Spurs set up however it is therefore all the more important that Udogie makes sure he is available as much as possible, with the left-back already suspended for the second time this term amid extensive pressures on the manager’s selections through injury already.
In other Tottenham news, Robinson is conflicted over an unwanted guarantee from a “liability” in the Spurs squad.