Matt Taylor

TOTTENHAM fancy Matt Taylor — but Portsmouth want a whopping £8million for him.

White Hart Lane boss Martin Jol is desperate to sign a left-sided midfielder before the transfer window closes after missing out on Stewart Downing and Manchester City new-boy Martin Petrov.

He is a long-term admirer of Taylor and almost signed him 18 months ago, only for the deal to collapse at the last minute.

Taylor, 25, is far from certain to start the season in the Fratton first team so Spurs were shocked by his sky-high valuation.

Jol insists he would only be willing to do business if the fee was set at around £4m.

Taylor can also operate at left-back but has played on the left side of midfield for Harry Redknapp’s side and netted nine goals last term, including some trademark spectacular long-range efforts.