Hamburg billionaire wants fans to pay for potential Van der Vaart signing

With cash-strapped Hamburger SV seemingly unable to bring Rafael Van der Vaart back to the Bundesliga, a billionaire from the German city has came up with a novel but rather greedy idea.

Rather than reaching into his own pockets to fund the transfer of the Spurs midfielder, Hamburg-based billionaire Klaus-Michael Kuhne thinks that if fans want the Dutchman to return to the side - where Van der Vaart played from 2005-2008 - they should put their money where their mouth is and part-fund the move.

"I do not want to take over for the most part. But whether I would participate or not is another issue," the businessman - believed to be worth close to €5 billion - told German daily Bild.

"I would have suggested... If 60,000 members could come together and spend an average of €100, it would be a considerable sum. If you can mobilise only half of that, it would be a great thing."

Despite not being a part of the official Spurs kit unveiling earlier this week - in addition to Luka Modric, also linked with a move away from White Hart Lane - the Dutchman has now insisted that his future remains at Spurs.

"It's kind of incredible how my name has been mentioned across Europe in the last few days," Van der Vaart told the same German newspaper, Bild. "But I just want to say that this is just gossip talking.

"I am about to play for Tottenham Hotspur in the new season. I have had two good campaigns in England and I am enjoying it.

"It's amazing the people of Hamburg and Hamburger SV still hold me in such kind regard. I enjoy this, it gives me a big boost."