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Spurs spurned chance to sign Michu on free transfer

Michu has been in stunning form for Swansea © PA Photos

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Tottenham are among a pack of Premier League clubs who turned down the chance to sign Swansea star Michu when he was available on a free transfer.

And when Michu, 26, eventually moved to Swansea last summer for a bargain £2 million the top-flight's elite again missed out on the chance to secure the Spaniard's services.

Former Spurs striker Gerry Armstrong, now an expert summariser for the Primera Division, has told ESPN how he recommended Michu, who is now the Premier League's leading goalscorer after a brace in Swansea's 4-3 defeat against Norwich.

It is a glaring miss for Andre Villas-Boas who is in the market for a new striker in the January transfer window but Spurs are not alone in wondering why they didn't take up Armstrong's recommendation, as the ex-Northern Ireland international says that a total of four Premier League clubs turned their back on Michu.

Remarkably Armstrong's advice was ignored, and now the Swansea centre-forward has scored 12 Premier League goal in just 20 shots on target to take the Swans to eighth place in the league and lead the goalscoring list ahead of Luis Suarez, Robin van Persie, Demba Ba and Jermain Defoe.

At £2 million Michu is the transfer bargain of the season, yet Spurs could have landed him for absolutely nothing, Armstrong claims.

"It was 18 months ago when I told three or four clubs in England about Michu," he said. "He was playing for Celta Vigo in the Spanish second division and the ex-Newcastle centre back Marcelino and I were chatting about how good a player he was and as a free transfer some club in England would benefit from his goalscoring.

"With one goal every two games and at 6ft 4ins tall Marcelino talked to clubs about him, but no one showed interest, so he signed for Rayo Vallecano and finished top goalscorer for them last season.

"Again I spoke to clubs and recommended him to Spurs. Michael Laudrup and I spoke about him while watching La Liga last year, and shortly before he was appointed manager of Swansea knowing he had a buy-out clause of €2.5 million. Well done Michael for having the courage of your convictions and taking a chance on Michu.

"He has to be the best signing of the Premier League last summer and must be valued at £25 million to £30 million as he is the top scorer in the Premier League to date so far and getting better all the time. Eat your hearts out, Spurs, and listen the next time you are offered a gem like Michu."

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