Wonderkid Bostock agrees 5m Spurs switch but Palace deny deal is done

Teenager John Bostock has agreed to join Tottenham from Crystal Palace - but the Coca-Cola Championship side deny any ageement has been reached.

The 16-year-old midfielder, who has played for England at youth level, made his debut last season and his progress has only been halted by recent GCSE exams.

"I am definitely ready to make this move and Spurs is the team I wanted to join," he said. "I feel this is a club with a great future and this is where I want to be to develop my potential and improve as a player."

Spurs and Palace are discussing terms for Bostock, who has been valued at £5million, but a tribunal will decide a fee if nothing is agreed.

The youngster would be put in the academy under normal circumstances but has been earmarked for a place in Spurs' development squad and is expected to feature for the reserves next season, possibly even the first team given the change in rules to allow seven substitutes.

Sporting director Damien Comolli said: "We are very pleased that John has decided to join us.

Desk job: Bostock crams for his exams at the London Nautical School

"We know he has the talent but we also know he is only 16 and so we will not rush him. He will have time to develop and will be working within a very talented development squad."

However Palace, who lost to Bristol City in the semi-finals of the Championship play-offs, deny an agreement has been reached.

A statement on their website, www.cpfc.co.uk, said: "Contrary to reports from Tottenham Hotspur FC regarding John Bostock joining the north London club,
Crystal Palace FC would like to announce that no agreement has been reached for
the services of the 16-year-old and he is still registered with Crystal Palace Football Club."

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Spurs could be on a collision course with Palace over the fee, with the Championship side insisting nothing has been agreed and that they hold his registration.

"Crystal Palace FC would like to announce that no agreement has been reached for the services of the 16-year-old and he is still registered with Crystal Palace Football Club," read a statement.

Spurs have already signed Luka Modric this summer and have been linked with a move for Manchester City defender Richard Dunne and Barcelona youngster Giovani dos Santos.

Palace chairman Simon Jordan is prepared to go to a tribunal to ensure Palace get adequate compensation for a player they had hoped would eventually sign a professional contract with them.

"Spurs have been a bit hasty because there is no agreement with Tottenham and
ourselves," Jordan told Sky Sports News.

"They can't as yet have an agreement with John Bostock, who remains a Crystal
Palace until the expiration of his contract, albeit if that is in a matter of days.

"And they can't reach an agreement with him because until an agreement is reached with Crystal Palace, whether that be through a financial agreement between the two clubs or through a tribunal, he remains a registered proposition at Crystal Palace.

"The player is our player, we have provided his education and training for six years and we have compensatory rights.

"Unfortunately we are talking about pounds, shilling and pence when we should be talking about the development of a 16-year-old player, whose father has for the last six months been telling me he wants to sign for Crystal Palace.

"But if it is about pounds, shilling and pence, which it seems to be for father and the boy, then we have to make it about pounds shilling and pence too."