Tapping Up

[Barmy_in_Palmy]

I didn't know where to put this so sorry if its in the wrong place, but

my question is this.

Setanta Sports reported this in an article.

Spurs have agreed personal terms with the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker, who has stated his willingness to move to North London following a telephone conversation with manager Juande Ramos.

and this

However, Spurs have so far been unwilling to match Zenit’s reported asking price of £28 million for a player who was one of the most impressive performers at Euro 2008.

since we have yet to match the price that Zenit want for Arshavin why have we made contact with the player? Not only that but we've already agreed terms with him. Surely this is not something that is done until after Zenit agree to sell him to us? Which so far they have not.

Is this not tapping up a player?

 

[Samson]

This one sounds complicated. As I understand it, Spurs were given permission to talk to Arshavin (perhaps understandably, given that he was assumed to have other suitors), but hadn't agreed/had the goalposts moved on a fee.

Arshavin and Berbatov are in similar positions, however. If we were able to buy Arshavin for a smaller fee, we would probably be able to be more relaxed about the Berbatov price.

 

[Destroyer]

I understand that Zenit have agreed to give Tottenham permission to speak to the player as they know that he will be moving on, & are likely to wait until the dying seconds of the transfer window to sell to the highest bidder.

 

[Destroyer]

this is a tap up.

 

[Barmy_in_Palmy]

this is a tap up.

incorrect, that is just a tap.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

Tapping up is speaking to the player without the clubs knowledge and consent. Given Dick Advocaat's numerous quotes, I'm sure Zenit knew exactly the status - probably better than Spurs given all the ruddy agents that are getting in the way, looking for a cut. Which in itself is another reason for why this couldn't be a tap-up.

Sure Spurs wouldn't be silly enough to genuinely tap up a player like a certain would-be England captain has repeatedly done this summer.

 

[Destroyer]

incorrect, that is just a tap.

No - its a Tap Up !

 

[Barmy_in_Palmy]

No - its a Tap Up !

no its just a tap, where does up come from?

 

[nicdic]

Too much FM Barmy. A club can give permission for another club to talk to a player before a fee is agreed. It's the talking without permission that is tapping up.