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spurs beat celtic in tournament opener
DAVID FRIEL in Holland
GOALS in either half from Darren Bent and David Bentley gave Spurs a 2-0 victory over Celtic in the opening match of the Feyenoord Tournament.
The England striker pounced in 25 minutes to fire the Premiership side ahead in an even first period. Debutant Bentley rounded off the scoring 10 minutes from time.
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Gordon Strachan’s men gave a decent account of themselves for long spells of the match, but were punished by the clinical finishing of Spurs, who looked impressive over the 90 minutes.
The compact De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam was the venue for the first match of this prestigious tournament held to mark the centenary celebrations of the Dutch giants. The hosts and Borussia Dortmund are also involved in the four-team mini-league.
An annual event, Celtic have competed in the competition twice before, lifting the trophy in 1981. The Hoops returned a year later and although they failed to defend their crown, losing in the final to Feyenoord, Tommy Burns was named Player of the Tournament.
Celtic and Spurs share a rich history. Traditionally, both sides are known for their attractive football and there have been some memorable meetings between the clubs, not least the 1967 Hampden friendly that finished 3-3.
This time, it wasn’t a six-goal thriller, but Celtic’s fourth Battle of Britain of this pre-season programme still provided a fair bit of entertainment for the travelling supporters. Unfortunately, it was the English side who came out on top in this clash.
Gordon Strachan named a strong starti ng line-up for the match against Juande Ramos’ Premiership superstars, with Scott McDonald and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink renewing their strike partnership. Shunsuke Nakamura again missed out through injury.
Spurs had the first chance of the match in three minutes. Bent won possession on the right side of the box and picked out Jermaine Jenas in space. The midfielder’s header didn’t have enough power to trouble Artur Boruc.
Celtic soon settled and Aiden McGeady was given the ball in an advanced area on the left flank and attacked Spurs full-back Didier Zokora. The winger then sent a chip to the back post, where Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was denied by a Jonathan Woodgate clearance.
The Dutch striker’s presence was causing problems for Spurs and he started the move that almost ended with another opening for Celtic at the back post. Spurs had to defend well and did.
McGeady was next to have a go in 22 minutes. Scott McDonald raced away on the right wing and cut the ball back to the winger. He teased Zokora and then curled a shot wide of the upright, with the aid of a deflection.
The SPL champions were looking composed yet disaster struck in 25 minutes when Spurs raced ahead. Paul Hartley, in possession at the halfway line, attempted to play the ball back to Boruc, but Bent had read the danger.
He was on to the ball in a flash and took it past Boruc with his first touch and then lashed his shot into the net from a tight angle to make it 1-0.
Celtic had to regroup and McGeady was running at Zokora at every opportunity. Clear-cut chances were hard to come by though, with Spurs well drilled at the back.
Boruc saved from Bent in the closing stages of the first half as Spurs chased a second. The English side then used the half-time break to bring £17 million man David Bentley on. Celtic made just one change, with Darren O’Dea replacing Stephen McManus.
Bent again tested Boruc as the second period began with much of the game being played in the midfield area. Paul Caddis, Georgios Samaras and Lee Naylor were then introduced just after the hour mark.
McDonald guided a Caddis cross wide as Celtic searched for a way back into the match. Spurs were always dangerous though and substitute Gareth Bale almost profited from some impressive wing play.
The Welsh teenager had more success in 80 minutes as he set up Bentley’s clincher – wriggling free on the left, Bale sent a cross to the back post and his team-mate tapped home from close range.
Spurs new boy David Bentley wants to follow in the same foot steps as his boyhood idol Paul Gascoigne at White Hart Lane.
The former Arsenal man completed his £17million move from Blackburn yesterday and straight away revealed how he use to stand in ore watching Gazza at Tottenham when he was a youngster.
He said: “Gascoigne was my favourite player growing up. The first football top I ever got was a Tottenham shirt with his name on the back.
“Gazza was great, a footballer who enjoyed his football, enjoyed his life and just played with that freedom. A lot of players looked up to him.”
“I’d love to be an entertainer like Gascoigne. I desperately want that. But I know I have to start off by earning the right.
“First of all I have to earn my right to be at this football club, a club that is in my heart. My aim is to have fans come and enjoy watching me perform for the team I’ve dreamed of playing for. “ The England winger admitted that while he would have loved to have joined Spurs when he was a kid, it was their bitter rivals that discovered his talents.
He continued : “No one from Spurs scouted me at all, though I lived just up the road. All my mates gave me some stick when I went to Arsenal but I have to say it was a great environment to grow up in.
“I was coming through at the time of the Invincible team, which went an entire season unbeaten in 2003-04 and set record after record.
“I just wanted to play regular first-team football. It has never been about money with me.
“No one forced me to leave but Blackburn offered me what I wanted — a real chance to play.
“Once I knew Spurs were in and interested — I’ll be honest and admit I thought I’d never end up here — there was only ever going to be one team I’d sign for.
“I was trying my nuts off to get here. Every day I was going through it, on the phone, trying my hardest to come here.
“My friends are all season ticket holders and they were on the phone to me every day. It has been an emotional time for me.
“All my mates, the Tottenham boys, loved it, absolutely loved it when I signed. They all have Tottenham tattoos up their arms and down their legs. They’re mad fans.
“They kept phoning to tell me ‘You’ve got to come to Tottenham’. I told them ‘I want to but they don’t want me’.
“It means the world to come here. My head and all my passion will be channelled into doing well for Tottenham. My mates are buzzing now — just like me.”
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Issue - Part II
In November 2007, Tottenham Hotspur hired the services of Tony Winterbottom. Mr. Winterbottom was the Executive Director of the London Development Agency/Authority (LDA) and was also the leading development consultant in the pre/post building of the Emirates Stadium.
“Our priority for this year [2008] is to make sure that we have a plan in action in relation to where we will be playing our football matches in the future”. - said a club spokesperson in January 2008.
"The club is reviewing its options and will commit to one option in the first half of 2008," commented Daniel Levy in November 2007.
Thus far, Mr. Winterbottom and his team have been working on a secondary stadium plan. We know that an initial plan was submitted to Tottenham Hotspur management in April 2008, although this plan could not be put into use as “the strategy behind it was unfeasible at this time”, said one club official to THBN.
“Mr. Winterbottom has taken into his employ another three professionals who are well versed in stadia law, design and development. “ – added another club spokesman.
Out of the three professionals that have been employed to lead the Winterbottom team, are Ken Shuttleworth and Paul Phillips, who are heading the strategic development & design aspects of the project and the project management side respectively. The third individual has not been named by the club.
Mr. Shuttleworth was the chief designer of the famous gherkin building in central London and headed the design team that drew the architectural drawings for the New Wembley.
Mr. Phillips is a buildings project manager and has already undertaken the Emirates Stadium project. Paul Phillips is responsible, under the supervision of Tony Winterbottom, for calculating the project costs.
When we asked the club if the figure-work Mr. Phillips was analysing was for an expansion of White Hart Lane, or a new stadium altogether, we were told that “this information could not be disclosed at present”.
We also asked the club why the statement they released in November 2007 and January 2008, stating that “a final stadium decision is expected in the first six months of next year [2008], had not been kept to? We were informed that “a decision has been put back until February 2009”.
Why wait until February 2009? It has been four months since the first Winterbottom report was handed to the club in April 2008. We know that the initial report was declined by the club, but no reason was given other than the fact that it was “unfeasible”. Maybe the costs involved were too high?
Maybe the Winterbottom team needs a further six months in order to submit their final report?
Or maybe, just maybe, ENIC, the company that own the majority of the shares in Tottenham Hotspur are looking to sell the club. After all, why spend extra funds on a new stadium, when you are looking to sell?
Some may argue that by commencing development either on a current stadium or new project would increase the value of the club. Whilst others claim that it would be commercial suicide to sell your stock in a club whilst managing such a large project.
We believe that ENIC are not looking to sell. This doesn’t mean that they won’t sell the club in the future, but at present, we are in safe hands.
The first-team squad is looking healthy (bar the loss of Robbie Keane and most probably Dimitar Berbatov), the new training ground at Bull’s Cross is currently being developed and should be completed in March 2010, which leaves the big question of when we will know what will happen with our stadium; will we be watching our team play at an expanded White Hart Lane, or will the club move to pastures new?
“The club will make an announcement by February 2009”, was the last word on the matter by a club official.
Let’s play the waiting game a little longer. After all, we have waited this long, what’s another six months?
Michael Dawson insists Tottenham will have the firepower to break into the top four this season.
Despite losing Robbie Keane to Liverpool on Monday and with Dimitar Berbatov seemingly set for Manchester United, Dawson is sure Spurs will not struggle for goals.
The centre-half ’s confidence is built around the attacking signings Spurs have made — £17million David Bentley today joined Luca Modric and Giovani dos Santos as new arrivals at White Lane — and the fact Juande Ramos is closing in on a couple of other major targets.
Russia team-mates Andrei Arshavin, one of the stars of Euro 2008, and Roman Pavlyuchenko are poised to sign in deals which will cost Spurs £34m.
Dawson has also been cheered by the return to form of Darren Bent, who is suddenly among the goals after a wretched season following his £16.5m move from Charlton last summer.
Bent scored a hat-trick in last night’s 5-1 friendly win at Leyton Orient to bring his pre-season tally to nine.
Dawson said: 'We’re confident we can challenge for the top four this season. We’ve had a good pre-season, scored plenty of goals and the fans are excited by the new players that have come in.
'If you look at the signings we have made — Luca, Giovani and others — that shows the club’s ambition. David Bentley will also be a good signing.
'They will all bring quality to the team and Darren Bent is also on fire at the moment.
'He’s enjoying himself and showing his class during pre-season. We won the Carling Cup last year but the league position wasn’t the best and that’s what we want to improve on.'
Modric and Aaron Lennon also got on the scoresheet on a night which saw the future of Berbatov at Spurs plunged into further doubt.
The Bulgarian was not at the Orient match and is desperate to complete his protracted
move to United, with relations between White Hart Lane and Old Trafford still frosty.
While that saga drags on, Spurs are near to completing their double swoop for Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko.
Arshavin, 27, has been a target for Chelsea, Arsenal and Barcelona but the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker, who will cost around £19m, is going to sign for Spurs in the next five days according to his agent.
'I am very optimistic about this deal but it is not easy — as usual with Russian clubs,' said Dennis Lachter.
'Andrei likes the way Juande Ramos is going to play at Tottenham and this is the main
point of our decision — not only the money but the desire of the manager to have the player.”
Pavlyuchenko, 26, is set to join from Spartak Moscow for £15m and Spurs hope that by signing two Russians, both players will find it easy to settle in London.
Pavlyuchenko ruined England’s chances of qualifying for Euro 2008, scoring two goals in a qualifier in Moscow last October.
While there have been big changes at Spurs this summer, Dawson will certainly be staying as he signed a new five-year contract yesterday.
'There was a lot of speculation over my future last year but the club has shown faith in me by giving me a new contract and it shows I’m committed,' said Dawson.
'It’s a squad game and I don’t expect to play every match, but having that competition is important.'
Steed Malbranque, though, yesterday became the third Spurs player to join Sunderland when he signed in a £4m deal.
The midfielder, 28, has agreed a four-year contract and will link up with former team-mates Pascal Chimbonda and midfielder Teemu Tainio.
However, Spurs defender Younes Kaboul has rejected a move to Wearside and is now likely to join Portsmouth, although Aston Villa are also interested.
www.dailymail.co.uk
Former Hammer Stephen Bywater could be set for a return to London as it is understood White Hart Lane are interested in the young goalkeeper...
Tottenham boss Juande Ramos is set to replace one England keeper with another. After offloading Paul Robinson to Blackburn Rovers, Ramos is tempted by the prospect of Rams' 27-year shot stopper, Stephen Bywater. The former Hammer is expected to provide competition for recent Brazilian acquisition, Heurelho Gomes, signed from Dutch giants PSV.
Paul Jewell, Derby manager, is quoted by the Derby Evening Telegraph as saying: "Tottenham came in with a bid for Stephen and the player is keen to go. I would like to have kept him but it is a move which appeals to him and we wish him well."
Bywater was never first choice at Pride Park either, the Manchester born glovesman grew accustomed to benchwarming for former Red Devil Roy Carroll.
www.goal.com
Hallowe’en will be almost upon us by the time David Bentley takes a gentle swagger down London’s Seven Sisters Road and confirms his status as Arsenal’s newest hate figure.
Not only did Bentley demand to leave the Gunners in 2006 but he had the audacity to take a verbal swipe at Arsene Wenger on his way to Blackburn.
Then he went on to prove there is life after Wenger by forcing his way into the England team and this week commanding a transfer fee of £15million.
Worse than all that, he has confessed to being a boyhood Tottenham supporter.
So how will he feel when he runs out at the Emirates in a Spurs shirt on October 29 to the kind of reception the normally placid Gooners like to reserve for Ashley Cole and Teddy Sheringham?
‘I can’t wait, I’m buzzing,’ grinned Bentley. ‘I haven’t been sleeping, I’ve just been thinking about putting on the shirt and running out in a north London derby. I’ve always wanted to play in one. It will be one of the best moments of my career, up there with the England thing.’
Bentley is not afraid to confront controversy, a refreshing quality in a sport awash with players spouting meaningless platitudes and press officers issuing faceless club statements from Blackberries.
He was booed by England fans after withdrawing himself from the European Under 21 Championship at the last minute and was jeered by Arsenal fans who decided he did not have the talent to slate Wenger’s transfer policy publicly.
‘That’s what people go and watch football for,’ said Bentley. ‘Sometimes they don’t just go to watch the football, they go to watch the characters. Or they come to abuse me. I get all the banter and that. I enjoy it, it’s what you want.
‘If you’re a footballer you don’t want a boring life. That sort of thing can inspire. If you don’t buzz off it that’s probably why you fail.’
Although Bentley relishes his role as a pantomime villain, he knows he was lucky to receive an education at Arsenal’s Academy. Good habits were acquired, talents nurtured and his strong personality encouraged.
His move to Spurs via Blackburn, however, represents a new beginning at a club he loves, with a tradition to entertain and under Juande Ramos, a manager with attacking principles.
‘Tottenham were the first club I watched and Gazza was my favourite player when I was growing up,’ said Bentley before travelling with the Spurs squad to Holland for pre-season games against Celtic and Borussia Dortmund. ‘I had a shirt with Gazza’s name on the back.
‘For me, he was everything as a player. He enjoyed his football and enjoyed his life. He played with freedom. I remember that goal he scored (against Arsenal) with no boot on. He was running through and lost his boot and put it in the bottom corner with his sock. That’s probably my best memory from White Hart Lane.
‘I’d love to be that sort of player but first I’ve got to earn the right to play here. I honestly never thought Spurs would be interested in me, they had so many great midfielders, but as soon as I knew they were, I was trying my nuts off to get here.’
Bentley grew up in Hertfordshire, a Spurs heartland. ‘My mates are all Tottenham boys, season ticket holders. They’ve all got the tattoos and stuff and they were always telling me to come to Tottenham. I’d say: “I want to, but they don’t want me”. But now they do.’
The arrival of Bentley has proved the perfect antidote for the departure to Liverpool of Robbie Keane, who was adored and will be missed. His No 10 shirt, the playmaker’s favourite, remains vacant. Bentley will take No 5, fuelling the belief that more flair players are on the way.
Russian pair Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko are expected to sign in the next few days and others will probably follow, including £200,000 Derby goalkeeper Stephen Bywater, as back-up for Heurelho Gomes.
The feelgood factor in the camp surpasses the normal mood of pre-season optimism and seems bright enough to survive the inevitable departure of Dimitar Berbatov.
Manchester United are gradually closing in on the Bulgaria striker and with no bids from Barcelona or elsewhere, Tottenham might have to accept Old Trafford’s £20m offer with improved £4m add-ons.
Spurs were hoping to spark a bidding war and chairman Daniel Levy — who clashed with Rafa Benitez over Liverpool’s pursuit of Robbie Keane — is reluctant to sell to Sir Alex Ferguson after criticising United’s pursuit of Berbatov.
While Tottenham have conceded they might be prepared to accept around £28m rather than the £38m being demanded, Ramos is ready to pack his moody star off now.
The Spaniard has overhauled the squad with a flurry of signings that will generate debate about whether this is finally the season when Spurs overtake Arsenal, surprisingly inactive in the market this summer.
Now Ramos must show how to cram Bentley, Pavlyuchenko, Giovani dos Santos, Arshavin and Luka Modric into the same team.
‘I feel like something is growing here and it’s something I want to be a part of,’ said Bentley when asked if Spurs are on an upward curve. ‘You can be just a number at another club and be in the background. But hopefully I can play a part in something really good at a place that is definitely growing .’
After years in Arsenal’s shadow is this the season when the cockerel crows again?
‘It’s hopefully looking that way,’ smiled Bentley, but even he is not brash enough to say it for certain. ‘Only time will tell. Arsenal have a good team now but so have we. Let’s see who comes out on top.’
Gascoigne famously sank Arsenal in 1991 in a north London derby and Bentley, who played alongside his hero at Martin Keown's testimonial four years ago, is relishing his chance to do the same.
'I can't wait,' he said after being unveiled as Spurs' £17million signing.
'I've not been sleeping at the moment thinking about running out there. I've always wanted to play in a north London derby, it will brilliant.
'Hopefully they want to see characters. They don't always go just to watch the football, they'll come to abuse me. I'll get the banter but I'll enjoy that. You don't to have a boring life as a footballer.'
'If you don't get a buzz off that's probably where you fail.
'There is nothing quite like running out for your country but it's probably going to be the best moment in my career, one of them anyway.'
'Bentley and his friends idolised Gazza but the chance for a trial at Spurs never arose, and it was Wenger who polished Bentley's talent before he shone at Ewood Park as a right midfielder or support striker.'
'You know how it works, life isn't perfect at the time. I played for the Arse, as you call it,' he added. 'That was a time in my career, a good time to grow up playing with a lot of talented kids.'
'All the Tottenham boys who are my friends have Spurs tattoos and are mad fans. They kept telling me 'you've got to come to Tottenham' and I said 'I want to but they don't want me'. Now they do so my mates are buzzing now.'
Spurs have closed the gap with their spending since then and last season ended
their nine-year trophy drought, which Bentley hopes is a sign that the two clubs will soon be competing at the same level.
He added: 'Hopefully it's looking that way but only time will tell. I want to be a part of that. Only time will tell and only performances on the football pitch will do that.'
Bentley is also hoping his efforts will put him in the frame for a regular England place and a chance to qualify for the World Cup after missing out on Euro 2008.
'We owe the country, don't we?" he said. 'It was not nice missing out on it and it would be nice to put that right.'
Meanwhile, head coach Juande Ramos is not giving special treatment to Dimitar Berbatov despite the striker wanting a move and chairman Daniel Levy being wary
of the negative influence the Bulgaria international could have on the dressing room.
Ramos said: 'He is a Tottenham player and we are happy that he is here. As one of our players, of course we would expect him to line up (on the first day of the season).'
Spurs are still working on other transfer targets, with the priority being a striker to step in for Robbie Keane, and Berbatov if he leaves for Manchester United.
Russia forward Andrei Arshavin will accept a move to Spurs if a fee is agreed with Zenit St Petersburg, and despite positive sounds coming from his advisor the 27-year-old is understood to be just one on a list of possibilities sporting director Damien Comolli is working on with Levy.
Real Zaragoza striker Diego Milito is unlikely to be one of those players, according to the 29-year-old's agent. Fernando Hidalgo told Diario Equipo. 'Tottenham was an option until today, but they are not anymore.'
Meanwhile, Derby goalkeeper Stephen Bywater is set to join Spurs as deputy for Heurelho Gomes.
Rams boss Paul Jewell told the Derby Evening Telegraph: 'Tottenham came in with a bid for Stephen and the player is very keen to go, which is fully understandable.
'I would like to have kept him but it is a move which appeals to him and we wish him well.'
www.mailonsunday.co.uk
Tottenham are set to unveil England winger David Bentley on Thursday before turning their attentions to bolstering their attack with Andrei Arshavin.
Bentley, the 23-year-old England winger, was scheduled to complete his medical on Wednesday night before a deal worth around £17million to Blackburn is completed.
And it looks set to be a productive few days for the north Londoners after Arshavin's agent, Dennis Lachter, claimed on Wednesday that a deal should be concluded for the Russian playmaker "in the next five days".
Spurs have called a press conference for Thursday morning to unveil Bentley before he travels to Holland to meet his new team-mates and play in the Feyenoord Jubileum Tournament in Rotterdam this weekend.
Rivals Arsenal, Bentley's former club, stand to receive a percentage of the deal as part of the terms of his transfer to Ewood Park in 2006 after an initial loan spell.
Russia forward Arshavin has been subject of interest from Spurs and Zenit St Petersburg have invited them to make a bid upwards of £20million.
According to Arshavin's agent, personal terms have been agreed and a deal could be struck by the weekend if the two clubs can agree a fee.
Lachter, Arshavin's representative, told Sky Sports News: "I am very optimistic about this deal but it is not easy - as usual with Russian clubs.
"The next few days will see if he can confirm this move to Spurs.
"Andrei likes the way Juande Ramos is going to play at Tottenham and this is the main point of our decision - not only the money but the desire of the manager to have the player."
Media reports suggest David Bentley is expected to have a medical at Tottenham this morning ahead of a proposed £15million move.
The Blackburn winger has been heavily linked with the north London outfit all summer and is on the verge of becoming Juande Ramos's ninth signing since taking over at White Hart Lane from Martin Jol seven months ago.
Rovers chairman John Williams confirmed on yesterday confirmed that the clubs were in talks about a deal that could rise to as much as £17million with add-ons.
Croatia midfielder Luka Modric said his new club Tottenham Hotspur could look froward to a "great future" despite the departure of Robbie Keane and the possible exit of Dimitar Berbatov.
"This club really has a great future. We have a lot of positive things here. We have great ambitions regardless of Robbie Keane leaving," Modric told reporters at the Spurs training ground.
"Even if Berbatov leaves, I'm sure we will find another great player to take his place," he added referring to the Bulgaria striker who is wanted by Manchester United.
Keane and Berbatov each scored 23 goals last season in all competitions and helped Spurs win the League Cup.
Modric, 22, signed for Tottenham for £16.5 million ($32.82 million) from Dynamo Zagreb before this year's European Championship finals and much is expected of the jewel of Croatia's international side.
Spurs have been active in the transfer market this summer with Ireland captain Keane leaving to join Liverpool for 19.0 million pounds on Monday, a few days after the departure of former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson to Blackburn Rovers.
New arrivals
The arrivals also include Brazilian goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes from PSV Eindhoven and highly rated 19-year-old Mexican teenager Giovanni dos Santos from Barcelona and both believe Spurs can mount a realistic challenge for honours this season.
Gomes told reporters: "You cannot look back in football, and I prefer to think about the players who are here, rather than the ones who have gone. My ambition this season is to win." When asked what he would like to win, he replied: "Everything. The championship."
Giovanni, who moved from Mexico to Barcelona when he was 13, said he had no regrets about leaving the Nou Camp. "I was not forced out, but it was very difficult for me to play regularly there and Tottenham is the best option for me."
He said Barcelona's France striker Thierry Henry, the scourge of Tottenham in his Arsenal days, also advised him to move to the blue half of north London. "I took his advice and he said it would be a great move for me. It's a great club and is going places.
"I am also delighted to be playing for a coach like Juande Ramos. He won a trophy in his first season here, and we must aim at winning another one next season too."
Source : Fifa.com
Sunderland have given Younès Kaboul and Steed Malbranque until today to decide whether they want to join from Tottenham Hotspur. The players have attracted interest from Aston Villa and Portsmouth, with the latter being the preferred destination of Kaboul, the defender. “We are very hopeful, but I appreciate that it is a big decision for them,” Roy Keane, the Sunderland manager, said.
Decent bets
Chelsea have accepted a £5 million bid from Manchester City for Tal Ben-Haim, the Israel defender, who has been offered a four-year deal.
Blackburn Rovers are interested in signing Mark Bresciano, the Palermo and Australia midfield player.
West Bromwich Albion have made an improved second bid of £2 million for Abdoulaye Meïté, the Bolton Wanderers defender, and have agreed to sign Madjid Bougherra, the Algeria defender, for a fee of about £2.5million from Charlton Athletic.
Dead certs
Lee Cattermole has signed a three-year contract with Wigan Athletic after joining from Middlesbrough for £3.5 million. Cattermole, 20, made his debut two years ago. “He’s young, he’s courageous, he’s a tireless worker,” Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager, said.
Hull City have signed Anthony Gardner on loan from Tottenham until January. The defender, who was on loan at Everton last season, moved to White Hart Lane from Port Vale eight years ago.
Birmingham City have signed Kemy Agustien on a season’s loan from AZ Alkmaar, with a view to a permanent deal. The 21-year-old midfield player can also play in defence. Chris Eagles has signed a three-year deal with Burnley after leaving Manchester United. Maynor Figueroa, the Deportivo Olimpia and Honduras left back, has had his loan at Wigan extended by six months, with a view to a permanent transfer.
Long shots
Sunderland could move for Louis Saha, the Manchester United and France striker, but the Wearside club are reluctant to meet the £10 million-plus asking price, given the player’s poor injury record.
Source: timesonline.co.uk
The Daily Mail reports that Dimitar Berbatov is expected to leave White hart Lane this summer. The same report goes on to mention that Juande Ramos has already found a replacement for the outgoing Bulgarian.
Tottneham have failed in their first attempt to sign Spain striker David Villa, but they are set to make another offer, according to the report.
Valencia have had a very tough past season in La Liga as they were briefly faced with the prospect of relegation and they are now having financial difficulties. This would force the club into selling their star player to relieve the financial pressures.
Tottenham are ready to pounce and sign the man who was once linked with a move to Old Trafford and is now catching the eye of the money men at Real Madrid, according to The Guardian.
The same report in The Guardian goes on to suggest that Tottenham are going to have to fork out about £31.5 million to get their man as that is the figure that Real Madrid are reportedly offering.
As we suspected yesterday, the Bentley deal has taken a step forward now we have seen Robbie Keane in a Liverpool shirt (yes, made me feel sick too!)
The BBC earlier reported that 'Blackburn Rovers have confirmed they are in negotiations with Tottenham over the possible sale of David Bentley'.
He will be a great addition to our squad but I find it slightly frustrating Spurs are going to have to weigh out £17m+ for a player discarded by Arsenal only a couple of years ago for an undisclosed fee but thought to be £4m or less. Even more frustrating is the fact Arsenal will get a percentage of the fee we play Blackburn!
I can't say I'm very impressed with the amount of stories I've heard about Spurs' interest in Diego Milito. I know we are short up front now but surely we can do better than this? Everton are also being strongly linked with him so I'm keeping my fingers crossed the master of the Glasgow Kiss, David Moyes, can get him signed and sealed sharpish.
A deal I am a lot more keen on is Andrei Arshavin. He's been rumoured to be very close to a move and is currently in talks with Spurs officials....could be an exciting few days coming up.
A report carried in the Daily Mirror claims that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has identified four targets for his £45 million transfer windfall.
Despite seeing Robbie Keane leave for Liverpool, Spurs are still bracing to lose Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian has been left unsettled amidst rumors of a move to Manchester United and Spurs fear he will leave, with Levy already having admitted that he thinks the former Bayer Leverkusen star will move on this summer.
However Tottenham would rather sell to a continental club and so there is one price of £30 milion for United and another of £25 million for the rest.
Levy has allegedly drawn up a hit-list of four players he wants Spurs to sign in the next fortnight should he get the £25 million he desires for Berba to add to the £20 million they’ve already gotten for Keane.
The report claims the top target is Blackburn’s England midfielder David Bentley, who will arrive in a much-touted £15 million move. It also claims that Spartak Moscow’s 26 year old Russian international, Roman Pavlyuchenko, will replace Berbatov as the club’s main centre forward. Spurs’ initial £10 million bid was rebuffed, but Levy is determined to get his man as Pavlyuchenko is seen as a hard-working striker who can lay on goals.
The Russian was one of the stars of Euro 2008 and is keen to move to the Premier League.
The report also claims that Levy is looking at signing Real Zaragoza striker Diego Milito, who is up for sale for around £8m. This part of the report conflicts directly with another carried today in the Daily Mail which claims Tottenham want Ricardo Oliveira also of Zargoza.
Nevertheless, Milito has been courted by several English clubs, including Newcastle. What is certain in the midst of these conflicting reports is that the Spanish club is desperate to cut their wage bills after relegation and to those ends cannot afford to keep both Oliveira and Milito.
Tottenham’s final target according to this report, is Sevilla youngster Diego Capel. Boss Juande Ramos says the winger is a great prospect and Capel is rated in the £12 million bracket by his club.
(source:The Daily Mirror)
Roy Keane claims to have agreed personal terms with 3, if not all 4 of the Tottenham players he put bids in for last week. You know, the deal I said would never happen!
Keane said: "I wouldn't get bogged down with deals being done by today or tomorrow, but I certainly hope they will be by the weekend.
"There is progress being made, but you know the score. You are dealing with clubs and sometimes the players have disagreements with the clubs they're leaving.
"One or two of the issues we're facing are basically out of our hands. It's between the players and Tottenham.
"On personal terms, we're virtually there with three of them, if not four, but there are one or two loose ends to be tied up.
"The four Tottenham lads were very keen to come up and listen to what I had to say.”
I have an uncanny knack of being able to do this. If I say something definitely will not happen it invariably does. Shilpa Shetty having no chance of winning Celebrity Big Brother springs to mind.
So on that note;
We will not sign David Villa and Arsenal will win everything next season.
Getting back to the story at hand, Keane was also questioned about Darren Bent but would not be drawn into any speculation regarding that player.
I can’t see us letting Bent go before the start of the season now, maybe at some point during the season, but I do hope he can turn his Spurs career around.
I’ve got a lot of time for the way Keane handles himself with the media. I have no doubt he can still lose it behind closed doors but he has really impressed me with his attitude since taking over the Black Cats.
I’ve also got time for him taking Pascal off our hands. Let’s hope he doesn’t give Keano a two fingered salute because I’ve got a feeling he might see his darker side. Ok, let’s hope he does.
Roy Keane of Man Utd, Celtic and now Sunderland fame has apparently bid for four of our misfits, Steed Malbranque, Teemu Tainio, Pascal Chimbonda and Younes Kaboul. Sunderland have also been linked with Darren Bent.
I find it very hard to believe they have made solid bids for this quartet. Similarly to all the swap deals that are banded about in the press, when do you see four players move from one club to another? It just doesn't happen! I'd imagine Keane is after Malbranque and possibly Tainio but I was lead to believe Kaboul to Pompey was pretty much a lock and I can't see Keane fancying someone with Chimbonda's attitude.
We do have a wealth of midfield talent and I'd imagine Malbranque and Tainio will be little more than squad player for the coming season so a move would be good news for them with regards to first team football. The two defenders are certainly on their way out.
All four of them to Sunderland though? I don't think so somehow.
Ramos was quoted in the press yesterday basically saying every player has their price, especially those approaching 30.
"At Tottenham, we have had a clear philosophy regarding buying and selling for years. The idea is signing young players, promising and talented ones, and if important offers for older players are made, studying it to see what is the best for the club."
I completely agree with this philosophy. Every player should have their price and if clubs are willing to pay stupid money then why not take it. The signings Spurs have made so far this Summer have all been good business and I'm confident they will look even better business come the end of the season.
This probably means Keane will be on his way if Liverpool make a substantial offer. Berbatov to Utd already looks done and dusted with Ferguson expecting to tie up a deal in a matter of days.
"We have made Tottenham an offer on Berbatov and we have good expectations that this deal will go through," Ferguson told The Sun.
If Keane does go as well this will obviously leave us short up front and with Ramos also being quoted as saying he has no interest in signing Luis Garcia, I can only assume he has at least two other strikers in mind for the coming campaign.
Who they might be I have no idea but I have faith in Ramos to replace the departing players with new talent that is equally as good or potentially as good, I just hope Comolli isn't involved!
The sooner we get rid of this arrogant mug the better imo. Ever since his performance after the Carling Cup win over Ar5ena1, where he showed a complete lack of respect for the club and it's fans, I've wanted him out. He then added to my hatred by acting like a spoilt brat when he was subbed in the final.
To behave the way him did after two of the greatest games in the club's history was a disgrace. The way he left Wigan should have given me a clue about the type of person he was but his on field performances for them that season and the fact we were going to have the same player in our side made me happy to ignore those actions.
According to today's Sun (I know, great source) both Newcastle and Everton are chasing him in a deal worth £4m.
He's certainly surplus to requirements as far as I'm concerned with Gunter and Hutton in the squad.
Both Gus Poyet and Aaron Lennon have been linked with moves away from the club recently, (seems like most of our squad have been) but both have moved to quash the rumours in the last 24 hours.
Since the departure of Carlos Queiroz at Manchester Utd, Poyet has been linked with the assistant's job there but it doesn't look like he's giving the rumours the time of day.
Poyet told the club's official website: "It's nothing. It was a surprise to read it.
"I want to stay at Spurs, I want to stay with this manager, this group of players and this club because I'm very happy.
"When you are in England and you are lucky enough to be with one of the big teams you are always going to get speculation.
"It happens, that's football - I've been around long enough to ignore it!"
This is great news for Spurs fans. Poyet is a great assistant and is an important link between Ramos and the players. I'm sure he's also great for morale in the dressing room.
Lennon was believed to be one of the players Ramos was keen to offload. I have to admit, his performances last season left a lot to be desired at times. He is undoubtedly a talented player but also a very frustrating one. His end product just isn't up to scratch and he really needs to work on this part of his game before he's just dismissed as another Ruel Fox or Tony Daley rather than an important part of THFC as well as the National Team for the foreseeable future, something he has the potential to be.
"There is no way I am leaving Tottenham," he told the Sun.
"I am settled here, I love the club and I feel my best form is yet to come.
"There is absolutely no reason for me to go anywhere else as I want to make a real contribution towards taking Spurs forward.
"The manager has never said a word to me about leaving - in fact it has been the opposite.
"Whenever I've spoken to him, he has given me tremendous encouragement. His words have been a real boost to my confidence.
"The manager has been right behind me since he came to the club and nothing has changed."
"The more quality players the manager signs, the better it is for everyone - the club and players.
"We all respond to competition and I am no different. It's all about improving yourself and the team.
"No one can afford to stand still in football and I want to improve the whole time."
According to those in the know, a deal has been done with Man Utd and Berbatov is on his way to Old Trafford in a deal worth at least £25m. This won't come as a shock to anyone and although a player with that amount of talent will be a loss, it was unlikely Spurs would be able to keep hold of him again this season and for that kind of money we can't really complain.
For the past few weeks it's been reported that David Bentley to Spurs was also a done deal but according to official reports, Aston Villa have lodged and 11th hour bid. The story going around seems to be that this is just to give Spurs the hurry up and Villa actually came in with this bid last week. Bentley wants to go back to London and it will be a surprise if he ends up at Villa rather than Spurs but it's still a possibility.