Saturday 31 August 2013 10:05, UK
Tottenham have continued their summer recruitment drive after announcing they have signed midfielder Christian Eriksen from Ajax.
Eriksen becomes Spurs' seventh signing of the summer, and third of Friday following the arrivals of Erik Lamela from Roma and Vlad Chiriches from Steaua Bucharest. Lamela cost a club record fee if £30million and it is the third time Spurs have broken their transfer record this summer following the previous deals for Paulinho and Roberto Soldado. Argentina international Lamela started his career with River Plate in his homeland before joining Roma in 2011 for a fee of around £11m. He scored four goals in his opening season in Serie A but made a massive breakthrough in 2012-13, when he hit the target 15 times in 33 games, second at the club behind recent Southampton signing Daniel Osvaldo. Centre-back Chiriches, who has 19 senior caps for Romania, is believed to have cost Spurs in the region of £9m. Chiriches, 23, joined Benfica in 2007 but moved back to Romania after a less than fruitful 12 months, first with the ill-fated International team that was dissolved in 2011. A move to Pandurii Targu Jiu followed before a transfer to Steaua at the start of the 2012 season, where he made 40 league appearances across two seasons and another two at the start of 2013-14. The deal for Eriksen takes Spurs' spending beyond the £100million mark, although they are likely to recoup the bulk of that, if Gareth Bale completes his anticipated move to Real Madrid. However, Sky Sports sources understand Spurs are prepared to make Real wait for Bale until after this weekend's north London derby with Arsenal. The Wales international's representatives are understood to be holding talks with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy on Friday in a bid to finally bring an end to the saga of the summer. But it is thought Spurs are determined to string out negotiations until after Sunday's showdown, for fear of triggering a series of events that could see up to three players join the Gunners from Madrid. Reports on Friday claimed Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, under pressure to make signings before Monday's deadline, was willing to blow his entire transfer budget on Real trio Karim Benzema, Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria. Spurs are also thought to have been irked by Real's decision to erect a stage to unveil their marquee man before the final handshakes.
