Hargreaves price war

Tottenham's bid to land Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich is in danger of failing because of the German club's transfer demands.

New Bayern coach Felix Magath is reluctant to let the England midfielder leave but will do so for a fee of more than £8million - and that is believed to be around £3m more than Spurs have so far offered.

The 23-year-old Canadianborn player has two years left on his contract and wants to play in the Premiership. He has been a long-term target for Spurs. Sven-Goran Eriksson has repeatedly sung the praises of the player to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and even suggested last January that they try to get him on loan.

Now new sporting director Frank Arnesen is understood to be conducting the move for Hargreaves.

Spurs face competition from Liverpool, Everton and Middlesbrough - and possibly Arsenal if Patrick Vieira leaves for Real Madrid.

Hargreaves is worried that Bayern's valuation is scaring off potential bidders.

He said: "I never intended to leave right away. £8m is a lot of money. They might as well have said that I have to stay. If they wanted to get rid of me then they could have done so. I assume I'll be playing for Bayern this season but a lot can still happen between now and the end of August.

"We need someone who is prepared to go into the tackles. Only Jens Jeremies and me are left to do that."

Arnesen, who was also linked with a move for Real Madrid's Luis Figo today, sees Hargreaves as a central player in a new-look midfield with Sean Davies.