Palace's sale of Bostock may reach £5m after all

Crystal Palace are likely to receive more than £2million for John Bostock, after fresh details emerged regarding the teenager's controversial transfer to Tottenham.

Palace were furious when a Football League tribunal decided last month Spurs should make a down payment of £700,000 for the England Under-17 midfielder, one of the most highly prized talents outside the top flight.

The deal was widely publicised as being able to rise to just £1.25m but a letter from the League to a Palace supporters' group - seen by Standard Sport - confirms the final fee is likely to be far higher.

The Championship club will receive an additional £250,000 when he makes five first-team appearances for Spurs with the same amount payable when he plays 10, 20, 30 and 40 matches.

Palace will also receive £200,000 if Bostock is capped by England and 15 per cent of any profit if Spurs sell him.

If Bostock realises his potential and commands an eight-figure fee, Palace could yet comfortably realise their £5m valuation of the 16-year-old.

"The [Compensation] Committee took the view that while he is a very talented young player he cannot be regarded as unique," the letter reads.

"As is usually the case, the losing club probably overstated the value of the player and the acquiring club understated his present level of performance and prospects. As a result, the level of compensation fixed was not in line with the proposals put forward by either club."

Palace owner Simon Jordan claimed the youngster had been sold "for a packet of crisps" and was so disillusioned that he had decided to sell the club at the end of the season, provided he finds a suitable buyer.

Spurs, meanwhile, have submitted a dossier of evidence to the Premier League regarding their complaints over Manchester United's pursuit of their striker Dimitar Berbatov.