• Premier League

Hamburg struggling to strike Van der Vaart deal

ESPN staff
August 29, 2012
Rafael van der Vaart joined Tottenham for £8 million in 2010 © PA Photos
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Rafael van der Vaart is being linked with a return to Hamburg, although coach Thorsten Fink admits the clubs are some way apart in their negotiations.

Van der Vaart, 29, left Hamburg for Real Madrid in 2008 before joining Tottenham in 2010 for £8 million. He has since scored 24 league goals for Spurs.

The Netherlands international has this summer been targeted by his former club, and reports in Germany suggest personal terms are already in place.

A fee between the two clubs, however, has yet to be agreed, with Hamburg's offer of €12 million short of Tottenham's €18 million asking price.

Fink is quoted in Morgenpost as saying: "When two parties are that far apart there is no basis to negotiate." The paper, though, indicates the Bundesliga club remain optimistic.

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