FC Groningen chief Hans Nijland revealed they made an attempt in January for Tottenham striker Vincent Janssen.

With Mimoun Mahi on the move, Nijland sought cover and asked Spurs about taking Jansson on-loan - along with approaching Schalke for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

He told RTV Noord: "It was done under the guise of 'you don't know if you don't ask'.

An English club had offered Groningen €3.3 million for Mahi in January, so Nijland knocked on the doors of Spurs and S04 about a replacement.

But after fielding a negative response from both attempts, Groningen chose to keep hold of Mahi to the end of this season.