Spurs told: Morientes will cost £17m

Tottenham have been told by Real Madrid to improve their offer for Fernando Morientes by at least £4 million or forget the deal.

Reports in the Madrid newspapers today claim that Real remain interested in selling the prolific centre-forward. But Jorge Valdano, managing director of the European champions, has insisted that Spurs must pay £17m for the player.

Real have also made it clear that the payment structure of the transfer is as important as the total amount.

Spurs hoped to pay around £6-7m as a down payment and the rest in instalments.

However Real want a minimum £13m down and the rest in a maximum of two further payments.

Another condition which governs Spurs' chances of signing the 26-year-old Spanish international is Real either signing Ronaldo from Inter Milan or Andrei Schevchenko from AC Milan.

Morientes has remained silent on the prospect of a move but his agents have not discouraged Spurs manager Glenn Hoddle, who said today: "The position has not changed since Wednesday. Our bid is not finished."