CHELSEA and Spurs are haggling over a swap deal involving Shaun Wright-Phillips and Jermain Defoe. And Sun can reveal the transfers are being held up over the valuation of Defoe.Manchester United are lurking in the wings and are weighing up a bid to sign Tottenham ace Defoe. The Blues want a straight swap but Spurs insist their striker is worth SWP plus around £4million.
Both players have agreed to the switch although the clubs remain at loggerheads over the details. Chelsea enquired about Defoe, 24, and were asked if they would consider making winger Wright-Phillips, 25, part of the deal.
A proposal without cash was put forward and then scuppered by Spurs. They cited Chelsea had agreed a £10.5m fee for SWP with West Ham and Aston Villa in the last transfer window but the player refused to move. Spurs have so far rebuffed all offers for England hitman Defoe and claimed his valuation is £15m.
The deal remains on ice until one of the London rivals offers a compromise. But officials at both sides are prepared to let it go to FridayÂ’s transfer deadline. That may leave room for United to make a cash-only bid. If Defoe moves to Stamford Bridge, it could allow striker Andriy Shevchenko to return to AC Milan.
DefoeÂ’s current deal expires in 2009 and Tottenham have indicated a desire to extend it but the player is aware his future may now lie elsewhere. He is the fourth-choice forward at White Hart Lane behind Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Darren Bent.