Tottenham boss refuses to discuss transfer link to Crystal Palace striker

BY SAM SMITH

Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho refused to discuss a transfer link with Crystal Palace striker Alexander Sorloth, who is midway through a two-year loan at Trabzonspor.

Sorloth scored 31 goals in all competitions for the Turkish side last season, and their club president Ahmet Agaoglu has claimed that the Norwegian is wanted by both Spurs and German Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig.

The striker’s loan agreement is complicated and includes an obligation for Trabzonspor to buy him if he plays a certain percentage of their games. Agaoglu believes both Trabzonspor and Palace would be entitled to a fee should the 24-year-old move to another club.

“Sorloth wants to go. We are meeting with Leipzig and Tottenham, ourselves and Crystal Palace,” Agaoglu told Turkish sport newspaper Fanatik. “We are both entitled to this transfer, we will act in Trabzonspor’s best interests.”

Mourinho refused to comment after Spurs were beaten 1-0 by Everton on Saturday. A striker to compete with Harry Kane has been a long-term need for Palace’s London rivals.

The Portuguese coach said: “I’m not going to discuss Sorloth. If the president of Trabzonspor told that [Spurs are interested] I’m not going to say that it’s not true. I think Sorloth is Trabzonspor player and it’s not for me to speak about.

“Do we need a striker? Yes. Was it because of that we lost the game? No. We didn’t lose the game because we need a striker. We lost the game and the responsibility of that defeat is my responsibility.”

Sorloth scored once in 20 appearances for the Eagles. His solitary strike came in the EFL Cup victory over Swansea in 2018 and he failed to score in 16 Premier League outings.