Watford striker Troy Deeney has lifted the lid on the summer rumours linking him with a move to Tottenham Hotspur in an interview with talkSPORT.
After being relegated last season, the 32-year-old was linked with a shock move to Spurs.
Deeney revealed he did indeed hold talks with Jose Mourinho but remained coy on the specifics.
“I saw Jose at the Watford versus Spurs game pre-season. That’s all I will say.”
Deeney’s respect for Spurs
The Hornets frontman refused to deny any rumours, though, and was willing to talk about his admiration for the north London club.
“When you get to Spurs you know the difference between the lesser clubs and the big boys,” he said. “It’s a different experience.
“I think we all watched the Amazon thing, their training ground is ridiculous. Their stadium is ridiculous.
“You want to test yourself as well. I’m not going to go in there and say ‘I’m better than Harry Kane’.
“I know what I can do and what I can deliver and there’s not many people who can do what I can do.”
Nobody’s back-up
Spurs were one of a host of Premier League sides interested in taking Deeney on as a back-up striker to England skipper Kane.
West Ham United and West Brom were among those interested in a late move on deadline day.
But at the age of 32, Deeney revealed he has no intention of playing second fiddle for the rest of his career.
“I’m 32. A lot of clubs were looking for a different style of striker as a back-up,” he said.
“Obviously everyone wants to play a certain way but when you get into certain moments you need someone to hold it up or, if you are losing a game, go long.
“There were a lot of talks. Some things materialised, some things didn’t.
“The ones that were getting closer you start thinking, ‘are you ready to go back to the Premier League to be a bit-part player?’
“I’ve been at Watford ten years and then you start weighing the options of calling it a day. When you get into that mould of being a super sub you can’t go back.”
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