Supporter Erects Garden Hurdle Outside Stadium As Benfica Weigh New Pavlidis Deal Against £85m Clause
Barry Napier · Transfer Correspondent · Reading time: one pint
Spurs Web reports that Benfica are considering a new contract for Vangelis Pavlidis, who has 14 goals in 13 appearances, and the hurdle has been in place since Wednesday morning.
A Tottenham man has placed a single athletics hurdle on the forecourt outside the stadium, following reports that Benfica are considering a new contract for Vangelis Pavlidis.
The Herald understands the report originated with Spurs Web, which relayed what Sport Witness had relayed from O Jogo and A Bola. Both Portuguese publications suggest that Tottenham may struggle to complete a deal in January. The headline described this as a hurdle.
The man read the headline at 7.40am on Wednesday. By 9.15am he had collected a hurdle from a garden shed in Enfield, where it has been kept since a sports day, and carried it by bus.
They've said hurdle. I'm not going to be the one who says it wasn't there.
The hurdle has been positioned in front of the main gate at the height the man estimates is correct for a Greek striker who has scored 14 goals in 13 appearances. He confirmed he had worked this out by eye, and that Benfica's determination to keep the player had been the deciding factor.
At around 11am, the man was seen moving the hurdle eight inches to the left after reading that the release clause stands at €100m, or £85m. He explained that the two figures required different positions and he had chosen the one in pounds.
By lunchtime the pigeon had cleared the obstacle without comment, which the man described as encouraging for a January move.
He has since gone to fetch a second hurdle, in case Benfica extend to 2029.
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