Tottenham told to pay €30m for Valencia's Roberto Soldado or face losing the striker

TOTTENHAM are facing heartbreak in their pursuit of Valencia striker Roberto Soldado after their bid was rejected.

Tottenham's bid for Soldado was rejected by Valencia

The 28-year-old was identified as a key target for Andre Villas-Boas, who only has two strikers in Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor.

But Valencia President Armadeo Salvo has told the Tottenham they must met the striker's €30m buy-out-clause or face heartbreak.

He said: "Soldado can go if he wants - for €30m and under our conditions. Valencia never had any intention of selling Soldado. If he goes then it is because the €30m figure has been met, not a cent less or a cent more."

Villas-Boas wants the Spanish international with him at White Hart Lane

Soldado is the leading Spanish goalscorer in La Liga over the past three seasons

“If he goes then it is because the €30m figure has been met, not a cent less or a cent more”

Valencia President Armadeo Salvo

If a deal is sanctioned by the club's hierarchy,Tottenham will break their transfer record for the second time this summer after the £17m purchase of Brazilian midfielder Paulinho.

Soldado impressed last season scoring 30 goals in 46 games for Valencia and Villas-Boas did not hide his admiration for the striker ahead of the Barclays Asia Trophy in Hong Kong.

“At the moment, he’s just one of the players we are interested in," the 35-year-old said.

"It’s not a lie to anybody that we’ve been looking for a striker to strengthen our squad and to have more strength in depth.

Villas-Boas is looking to add to his strikeforce

The 35-year-old speaking in Hong Kong

“Roberto is one of the players we have been following and his career speaks for itself. He’s a great striker. But there isn’t a deal being struck at the moment, it’s just interest and conversations.”

The Spanish international represented his country at this summer's FIFA Confederations Cup scoring once as they finished runners-up to hosts Brazil.