Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell has revealed that winger Aaron Lennon had to take a massive cut in wages to join Tottenham.
The 19-year-old, who has been included in England's World Cup squad, left Leeds to join Spurs for £1m last July.
But Blackwell told Five Live: "He actually took a wage cut to go to Tottenham from Leeds.
"The contract that he had was so prohibitive to Leeds - it came from the Premiership days - that there was no way we could afford to keep him."
Lennon made his Premiership debut for the Elland Road club at the age of 16 and spent one season in the Championship with Leeds before making the switch to White Hart Lane.
He actually took a wage cut to go to Tottenham from Leeds
Kevin Blackwell
Although Lennon impressed for England B against Belarus on 25 May, he has yet to make his full England debut.
But former boss Blackwell is tipping Lennon to make a name for himself at this year's World Cup in Germany.
He said: "I think Aaron will come on later in games and he's a great weapon to bring on.
"The international stage doesn't yet really know about Aaron just yet."
Blackwell also believes Lennon could give captain David Beckham a run for his money in the team.
He added: "I don't think going into the World Cup you can go in with a load of inexperienced players, so David Beckham has a major role to play.
"But time catches up with us all and we all have to sometimes look over our shoulders."
He would have been about 17 at the time of his Leeds contract.
Monkeys were clearly running the Leeds board
The 19-year-old, who has been included in England's World Cup squad, left Leeds to join Spurs for £1m last July.
But Blackwell told Five Live: "He actually took a wage cut to go to Tottenham from Leeds.
"The contract that he had was so prohibitive to Leeds - it came from the Premiership days - that there was no way we could afford to keep him."
Lennon made his Premiership debut for the Elland Road club at the age of 16 and spent one season in the Championship with Leeds before making the switch to White Hart Lane.
He actually took a wage cut to go to Tottenham from Leeds
Kevin Blackwell
Although Lennon impressed for England B against Belarus on 25 May, he has yet to make his full England debut.
But former boss Blackwell is tipping Lennon to make a name for himself at this year's World Cup in Germany.
He said: "I think Aaron will come on later in games and he's a great weapon to bring on.
"The international stage doesn't yet really know about Aaron just yet."
Blackwell also believes Lennon could give captain David Beckham a run for his money in the team.
He added: "I don't think going into the World Cup you can go in with a load of inexperienced players, so David Beckham has a major role to play.
"But time catches up with us all and we all have to sometimes look over our shoulders."
He would have been about 17 at the time of his Leeds contract.
Monkeys were clearly running the Leeds board
