Article by Nathan DurecIt’s not often that I hear of a Tottenham Hotspur news story with a Canadian slant to it. However, the rumour mill has been busy as of late here as the MLS regular season ends today and teams who didn’t qualify for the playoffs begin to look to next year and how to make their squads stronger. The one rumour that doesn’t seem to be quitting is that Toronto FC is looking to acquire Spurs striker Jermain Defoe on a Designated Player contract.
First of all, this is not going to happen. Second of all, this is not going to happen. Shall we name the reasons? Why not.
Toronto FC’s Record
Toronto is the whipping boy of the MLS Eastern Conference. While they do seem to have tiny moments of progression each season, they are a club now ending their 8th season without ever once making the playoffs. They may have had some success in the Canadian Championship, the Voyageurs Cup, but that’s not difficult to do when you’re competing against only three other clubs, one of which is not even in the MLS.
Defoe is plays for a team that is consistently in the Europa League of European football and is on the brink of the Champions League. Moving to the MLS would be a massive step down (sorry MLS) for Defoe.
International Career Suicide
Most Europeans have the impression that the MLS is where aging players go to retire, like an old age home for players. The MLS has grown is stature over the years, but they are nowhere near the same level as top leagues in Europe. This is at minimum 20 years away and even that’s a very liberal estimate.
Defoe has designs on playing for England in the upcoming World Cup next year. That will not happen if he moves to Canada in the January transfer window. Roy Hodgson won’t even give him a look, no matter he well he does. If he moves, he may as well retire from international play.
Money
The Toronto Sun newspaper reported that it would take a contract of $5 million CDN a season to lure Defoe away. However, Defoe still has two years left on his current contract. And would Toronto have the money for whatever transfer fee Tottenham would want? In the summer when Rednapp was making noise about wanting him for QPR, it was suggested a £6 million transfer fee would be needed. Current value estimates have Defoe’s market worth even higher. Toronto has been given $26 million CDN to spend in their off-season, but will they use half of that on a single player? In addition to agreeing to wages and terms with the player? Not going to happen.
A Shot in the Dark
Current TFC head coach Ryan Nelson has a relationship with Defoe. Nelson had a short spell with Spurs in 2012. He has used his English connections in the past to try and bolster the squad, but Defoe would not just be any player for Toronto. As a Designated Player, he would command a much larger wage. For those who don’t follow MLS, each club is restricted by a salary cap. Designated Players are allowed to be signed on wages that would normally put a club over that cap with only a fraction actually counting against it.
Toronto could drive an armoured truck full of cash to Defoe’s front doorstep and he would still turn it away. With the World Cup not even a year away, Defoe will not jeopardize his chances of being a part of the English squad. On top of that, he has shown several times this season that he is still capable of contributing in the EPL.
Sorry, Toronto. Shopping in Europe means managing expectations. I can understand why you want Defoe, but he doesn’t want you.
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